A Synthesis of the 2001-2004 Peace Native Grasslands Program

CCONSERVATIONONSERVAT ION RREPORTEPOR T SSERIESERI E S CCONSERVATIONONSERVATION RREPORTEPORT

SSERIESERIES 25% Post Consumer Fibre When separated, both the binding and paper in this document are recyclable A Synthesis of the 2001-2004 Peace Native Grasslands Program

Annette Baker Alberta Conservation Association Bag 900-26 Peace River, Alberta, Canada T8S 1T4

Report Series Co-editors

GARRY J. SCRIMGEOUR DAVID FAIRLESS Alberta Conservation Association Alberta Conservation Association P.O. Box 40027 7th Floor, OS Longman Building Baker Centre Postal Outlet 6909 - 116 Street Edmonton, AB, T5J 4M9 Edmonton, AB, T6H 4P2

Conservation Report Series Types: Data & Technical

ISBN printed: 0-7785-4083-9 ISBN online: 0-7785-4084-7 ISSN printed: ISSN online: Publication Number: T/080

Disclaimer: This document is an independent report prepared by the Alberta Conservation Association. The authors are solely responsible for the interpretations of data and statements made within this report.

Reproduction and Availability: This report and its contents may be reproduced in whole, or in part, provided that this title page is included with such reproduction and/or appropriate acknowledgements are provided to the authors and sponsors of this project.

Suggested Citation Baker, A. 2005. A synthesis of 2001-2004 Peace native grasslands program. Technical Report (T-2004-002) produced by Alberta Conservation Association, Peace River, Alberta, Canada. 70 pp.

Cover photo credit: David Fairless

Digital copies of conservation reports can be obtained from: Alberta Conservation Association P.O. Box 40027 Baker Centre Postal Outlet Edmonton, AB, T5J 4M9 Toll Free: 1-877-969-9091 Tel: (780) 427-5192 Fax: (780) 422-6441 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ab-conservation.com

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report summarizes activities performed as part of the Peace Native Grasslands Program between 2001 and 2004. Until this study was undertaken, very little was known about the current location, size, or condition of upland native grasslands in the Peace region. Historically, native grasslands were extensive and contiguous throughout the Peace region of northwest Alberta. Land development has heavily affected the landscape since the 1900s and the present study has shown that only 746 ha of upland native grassland remains; representing less than 0.5% of the original area. An additional 1,210 ha is yet to be fully evaluated. Current remnants of native prairie are distributed nearly equally between private and Crown ownership.

Interpretation of aerial photography identified 952 upland native grassland sites in the Peace region. Using field assessments, 395 of these sites were verified as being native grassland remnants and were subsequently described in terms of their plant communities. In addition, vegetation communities in valley native grasslands, moist native meadows and sphagnum peatlands were verified using aerial photographs. Based on field assessments, parcels of remnant upland native grasslands were very small in size with the vast majority (i.e., 97% of all sites assessed) sites being < 16.2 ha (i.e., 40 acres) and with 39% of all remnants being one hectare or less. The small size of remnant grasslands will affect the selection and application of potential management and conservation tools that can be used effectively and economically to conserve native grasslands.

Native upland grasslands are biologically diverse both within and among remnants and support both rare plant species and communities. Native grasslands in the Peace region also provide habitat for many animal species including several butterfly species that are dependent on specific grassland host plants. In fact, my data suggests that eight disjunct grassland dependent butterflies appear to have a strong affinity for native habitats. During this study, the known ranges for a number of plant, butterfly, and moth species were extended. Continued habitat disturbance and fragmentation represents an ongoing threat to the persistence of these and other species.

During the study period, baseline information was collected on upland native ii

grasslands, and related data used by other agencies to support conservation of native prairie habitat. The availability of these baseline data means that more projects can, and are, being developed to address specific questions related to native grasslands, their management and their conservation.

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author acknowledges the following individuals, agencies, and organizations for their contributions and assistance in delivering this project. Darcy Meyers, Denise Kurina, Tara Sample, Stephanie Bone and Alysia Book collected data despite the bugs, rain, heat, and wildlife encounters. Anne Holcroft-Weerstra (Biota Consultants) assisted with interpretation of air photographs and Bonnie Hood assisted with the development of maps and provided GIS support. Mike Willoughby (Alberta Sustainable Resource Division [ASRD]-Public Lands Division completed analysis of plant communities and Dave Walty captured moths that were later identified by Chris Schmidt. I am also grateful Lorna Allen, Kim Banman, Cameron Broatch, Patsy Cotterill, Mark Feldberg, Graham Griffiths, John Hallett, Brendan Kowalenko, Rene Labbe, Sheila Rangen, Mike Rosendal, Lorraine Sawdon, Chris Schmidt, Felix Sperling, Ksenija Vujnovic, Ken Wright and ASRD (Public Lands, Forestry and Fish and Wildlife divisions. Lorna Allen, Margot Hervieux, Pat McIsaac and Garry Scrimgeour reviews earlier version of this report. Special thanks to Lorna Allen, Reg Arbuckle, Margot Hervieux, Carcey Hincz, Adam James, Ed Kolodychuk, Pat McIsaac, Colin Stone, and Tara Szkorupa whose substantial support helped shape and develop both the project and me.

Funding was provided by: Alberta Conservation Association (ACA), ASRD, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Environment Canada (Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk), Human Resources Development Canada-Summer Career Placement, North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP)-Biodiversity Fund and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

In-kind support was provided by: ACA, Alberta Native Plant Council (ANPC), Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre (ANHIC), ASRD-Fish & Wildlife Division, ASRD- Public Lands and Forests Division, ASRD-Resource Information Unit, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Peace Parkland Naturalists, and University of Alberta-Entomology Department.

All photographs in this report are taken by the author, unless otherwise noted.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...... II

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... IV

LIST OF FIGURES...... VI

LIST OF TABLES ...... IX

1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1 Background ...... 1 1.2 Study rationale...... 3 1.3 Study objectives...... 8 2.0 STUDY AREA...... 9 2.1 Description ...... 9 2.2 Natural region, climate and soils ...... 9 2.3 Plant communities...... 11 2.4 Animal communities...... 11 3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS ...... 12 3.1 Site selection...... 12 3.2 Data collection ...... 15 4.0 RESULTS...... 20 4.1 Site Identification...... 20 4.2 Field Results ...... 33 5.0 DISCUSSION...... 58 5.1 Key findings and management considerations...... 58 5.2 Further use of data ...... 60 5.3 Future work...... 61 6.0 COMMUNICATIONS...... 63 6.1 Presentations at conferences, workshops and meetings...... 63 6.2 Posters displayed...... 63 6.3 Articles and Interviews...... 64 7.0 LITERATURE CITED ...... 65

8.0 APPENDICES ...... 71

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Map of the Peace River region from the 1950s...... 2

Figure 2. Location of the study area in the white zone (i.e. settled) in northwest Alberta...... 10

Figure 3. Portion of an NTS mapsheet which shows a satellite image with outlined areas of interpreted valley native grassland polygons (brown outline and green hatching) and interpreted upland native grassland polygons (green outline and green hatching)...... 14

Figure 4. Location of interpreted upland native grassland polygons in northwest Alberta...... 22

Figure 5. Area and number of interpreted upland native grassland polygons...... 23

Figure 6. Area and number of interpreted valley native grassland polygons...... 24

Figure 7. Map showing location of interpreted valley native grassland polygons in northwest Alberta...... 25

Figure 8. Area and number of interpreted moist native meadow polygons...... 26

Figure 9. Map showing the location of interpreted moist native meadow polygons in northwest Alberta...... 27

Figure 10. Area and number of interpreted sphagnum peatlands in the Peace region of Alberta...... 28

Figure 11. Map showing the location of interpreted sphagnum peatlands in northwest Alberta...... 29

Figure 13. Area and number of sites with potential and questionable upland native grasslands in northwest Alberta...... 32

Figure 14. Estimating and recording vegetation cover and GPS location of a micro plot...... 34

Figure 15. A Photograph of beardtongue (Penstemon spp.) and arnica (Arnica spp.)-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta...... 34

Figure 16. A photograph of intermediate oat grass (Danthonia intermedia)- dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta...... 35

Figure 17. A photograph of three-flowered avens (Geum triflorum)-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta...... 35

Figure 18. A photograph of rough hair grass (Agrostis scabra)-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta...... 36

Figure 19. A photograph of harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) and northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta...... 36

Figure 20. A photograph of sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata)-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta...... 37

Figure 21. A photogrpah of aster (Aster spp.) and intermediate oat grass- dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta...... 37

Figure 22. A photograph of western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta)-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta...... 38

Figure 23. Map showing the location of rare plants that were observed during 2001-2003 in northwest Alberta...... 41

Figure 24. Photo of leather grape fern (Botrychium multifidum)...... 42

Figure 25. A photograph of low townsendia (Townsendia exscapa)...... 42

Figure 26. A photograph of Carolina wild geranium (Geranium carolinianum)...... 43

Figure 27. A photograph showing the technique required to catch a flying butterfly...... 44

Figure 28. A photograph of the process used to identify a captured butterfly...... 44

Figure 29. Location of study sites where butterflies were surveyed in northwest Alberta, 2001-2003...... 45

Figure 30. A photograph of Pike’s Old World swallowtail (Papilio machaon pikei). ..46

Figure 31. A photograph of Canadian tiger swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) taken through a plastic observation jar...... 47

Figure 32. Disjunct grassland butterfly species and the habitats in which they were observed 2001-2003 in northwest Alberta...... 48

Figure 33. Locations of moth survey and capture sites for 2003 in northwest Alberta...... 49

Figure 34. Map of upland native grassland sites in northwest Alberta that were verified with field assessments between 2001 and 2003...... 51

vii

Figure 35. A photograph of an upland native grassland used as a reference site in northwest Alberta...... 52

Figure 36. A photograph of a valley of native grassland used as a reference site in northwest Alberta...... 52

Figure 37. A photograph of a sand dune area used as a reference site in northwest Alberta...... 53

Figure 38. A photograph of moist native grassland used as a reference site in northwest Alberta...... 53

Figure 39. A photograph of native shrubland used as a reference site in northwest Alberta...... 54

Figure 40. A photograph of a modified cultivated site used as a reference site in northwest Alberta...... 54

Figure 41. A photograph of modified introduced site used as a reference in northwest Alberta...... 55

Figure 42. A photograph of modified shrubland used as a reference site in northwest Alberta...... 55

Figure 43. A photogragh of a modified overgrazed site used as a reference in northwest Alberta...... 56

Figure 44. Chart showing the proportion of the verified area of polygons (divided by quarter section boundary) that each classification type of upland native grassland contributes...... 58

viii

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Definition of plant species assessment rankings by ANHIC (Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre 2002)...... 4

Table 2. Status and rank of select plant species found in the Peace region grasslands...... 4

Table 3. Provincial and COSEWIC status of NABCI bird species found in the grasslands of the Peace region...... 6

Table 4. Peace region grassland butterfly species of interest and their provincial general species status and ANHIC rank...... 8

Table 5. Definition of terms used to classify polygons through air photo interpretation...... 12

Table 6. Definition of terms used in data collection...... 13

Table 7. Definitions of terms used to classify polygons...... 15

Table 8. Stage of flowering and corresponding phenology codes...... 17

Table 9. Classification, number and area of interpreted polygons...... 21

Table 10. Size categories of interpreted polygons that potentially supported remnant patches of native grasslands in northwest Alberta...... 21

Table 11. The number of sites and the number of interpreted polygons and how this number is affected by divided along quarter line boundaries...... 31

Table 12. Range health of upland native grasslands under different ownership in northwest Alberta...... 39

Table 13. Number and area of verified upland native grassland and questionable upland native grassland polygons in northwest Alberta...... 50

Table 14. Classification of verified upland native grasslands (polygons divided by quarter section boundary)...... 57

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Native grasslands of the Peace region in northwest Alberta are home to a diverse and interdependent mix of plants, insects, birds, and other animals; this assemblage of species is found nowhere else in Alberta. However, very little is known about these native grasslands, including how much remains, where it is located, its current condition and changes that it may undergo due to livestock and other human-induced pressures. In this report, native grasslands refer to graminoid (i.e., grass and sedge)-dominated areas of the Peace region, and do not include the tree or shrub dominated areas that are often associated with these open grassy sites.

1.1 Background

Native grasslands in the Peace Parkland ecosystem, which were once extensive and contiguous throughout the Peace region, are now confined to small, scattered remnants typically located in upland regions, and in larger areas along the south and west facing slopes of the Peace and Smoky Rivers and their tributaries (Alberta Environmental Protection 1997). Using Wilkinson’s (1981) early land survey estimates of the Peace region parkland and the corresponding proportion that was classified as ‘prairie’ or ‘open grassland’, the areal extent of upland native grasslands covered can be estimated at 434,530 to 1,128,935 hectares in the Grande Prairie, Spirit River and Peace River areas. This estimate is likely conservative because it does not include other grassland areas that were scattered throughout the region including those in the Fort Vermilion, Manning, Keg River and High Prairie regions indicated by Moss (1952; Figure 1). Interestingly, the names of many towns in northwest Alberta include references to prairie ecosystems i.e., include Grande Prairie, High Prairie, Big Prairie, Salt Prairie, Paddle Prairie, John D’or Prairie, Buffalo Head Prairie, Wilson Prairie, Savage Prairie, Clear Prairie, Little Prairie, Prairie Echo, and Prairie Point.

Wide scale loss of open grasslands is generally attributed to the expansion of cultivation, urbanization and industry, inappropriate grazing practices, encroachment of forests and shrublands and competition with non-native species and invasive weeds from tame pastures (Alberta Environmental Protection 1997, Leonard 2000). Loss of the majority of

Figure 1. Map of the Peace River region from the 1950s. The shaded areas represent parkland vegetation and dark soils, and include the natural grasslands of the region. Taken from Moss (1952).

upland native grassland occurred in the early 1900s due to cultivation (Wilkinson 1981, Leonard 2000). Since that time, much of the remaining upland grasslands have also succumbed to cultivation, or more surreptitiously have been modified by overgrazing, shrub encroachment and the intentional introduction or accidental encroachment of agronomic species. These factors have and continue to affect all Parkland areas of Alberta. However, the Peace River Parkland has undergone perhaps the most extensive alteration and native habitat loss of all the regions (Alberta Environmental Protection 1997). Habitat loss, which has severely decreased the area of native grasslands in the Peace region; habitat fragmentation; and the invasion of non-native plant species into native remnants are considered the top three threats to biological diversity in the Peace River region (Alberta Environmental Protection 1997, Wolff et al. 1997).

1.2 Study rationale

Continued habitat loss and fragmentation of native grassland ecosystems reduce the biological diversity of plant communities and the animals that rely on those plants for their survival. The absence of basic information on the status of these native grassland ecosystems in the Peace region, greatly reduces our ability to conserve these important habitats and the plant and animal species that occupy them.

1.2.1 Conservation considerations

Native grasslands are home to a diverse assemblage of plants and animals and maintaining and conserving these grasslands has the potential to conserve multiple species, including those that directly or indirectly rely on these habitat types. The Alberta Conservation Association (ACA), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) have identified native grasslands as a priority for conservation. The use of GIS technology to map grasslands allows for comparisons with other spatial information to gain insights on what factors may affect grassland conservation. The information also provides benefits to other conservation-related projects such as rare plant inventories, butterfly monitoring and sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) habitat conservation. When compared with identified conservation priority areas, the mapping products can be used as a planning tool for many conservation agencies.

1.2.2 Plant species

Five plant species that are often found in native grasslands and have been previously recorded in the study area are currently tracked by the Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre (ANHIC), as they are considered of high priority because of their rarity or other attributes (Vujnovic and Gould 2002) (Table 2). Definitions of ANHIC status (S) ranks are provided in Table 1. The Provincial government has assessed the status of orchids and ferns in Alberta and has identified leather grape fern (Botrychium multifidum var intermedium) as being a species that ‘may-be-at-risk’ (Anonymous 2001). All other vascular species are still under review and status rankings are not currently available (Robin Gutsell, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Edmonton, pers. comm.). There are also at least 34 grassland species found in the Peace Parkland that appear to represent disjunct populations, which normally have a more southerly or westerly distribution (Achuff 1994, Lorna Allen, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Edmonton, pers. comm.).

Table 1. Definition of plant species assessment rankings by ANHIC (Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre 2002).

Status Rank Description

S1 5 or fewer occurrences or only a few remaining individuals, may be especially vulnerable to extirpation because of some factor of its biology.

S2 6-20 or fewer occurrences or with many individuals in fewer locations, may be especially vulnerable to extirpation because of some factor of its biology.

S3 21-100 occurrences, may be rare and local throughout its range, or in a restricted range (may be abundant in some locations), may be vulnerable to extirpation because of large-scale disturbance.

S4 Typically >100 occurrences, apparently secure.

S5 Typically >100 occurrences, demonstrably secure.

Table 2. Status and rank of select plant species found in the Peace region grasslands.

Common name Scientific name ANHIC rank

Canadian rice grass Oryzopsis Canadensis S1

Carolina wild geranium Geranium carolinianum S1

Herriot's sagewort Artemisia tilesii S2

Leather grape fern Botrychium multifidum var S2 intermedium

Pale blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium septentrionale S2S3

1.2.3 Plant communities

ANHIC tracks natural plant communities that have been described by vegetation experts as ‘unusual’, ‘uncommon’, ‘of limited extent’, ‘encountered infrequently’, ‘in decline’ or ‘threatened’ (Allen 2002). Six grassland communities found in the Peace region are present on this tracking list: slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus syn. Agropyron trachycaulum)-needle grass species (Stipa spp.) and June grass (Koeleria macrantha)- western wheat grass (Pascopyrum smithii syn. Agropyron smithii) communities are found on upland sites. Slender wheat grass-awned sedge (Carex atherodes) communities are found in moist areas. Western wheat grass-Herriot’s sagewort-pasture sagewort (Artemisia frigida) and western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta)-green needle grass (Stipa viridula)-sedge species (Carex spp.) communities are found on steep river slopes.

1.2.4 Birds

Native grasslands also provide habitat for many wildlife species, including birds such as Le Conte’s sparrow, which prefer native grasslands to tame pasture (Prescott and Murphy 1996). A study by Prescott and Arbuckle (1995) showed that native grasslands support some of the most diverse avian communities in the Peace Parkland Biome, along with sphagnum peatlands (referred to as perched sphagnum bogs by Prescott and Arbuckle (1995) and moist meadows (referred to as wet sedge meadows by Prescott and Arbuckle). Although sphagnum peatlands may be more widespread, Prescott and Arbuckle (1995) considered them one of two habitats unique to the Peace Parkland. A number of priority North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) bird species

occur or nest within native Peace region grasslands (Reg Arbuckle, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Grande Prairie, pers. comm.). These include birds of prey, waterfowl and grassland songbirds (Table 3).

Table 3. Provincial and COSEWIC status of NABCI bird species found in the grasslands of the Peace region.

Common Scientific Provincial general COSEWIC name name species status status Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus At risk Threatened Short-eared owl Asio flammeus May be at risk Special concern Trumpeter swan Cygnus buccinator At risk Not at risk Red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis Secure Not at risk Northern harrier Circus cyaneus Secure Not at risk Upland sandpiper Bartramia longicauda Sensitive Not assessed Sharp-tailed grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus Sensitive Not assessed Le Conte’s sparrow Ammodramus leconteii Secure Not assessed Lincoln’s sparrow Melospiza lincolnii Secure Not assessed Vesper sparrow Pooecetes gramineus Secure Not assessed Say’s phoebe Sayornis saya Secure Not assessed Clay colored Spizella pallida Secure Not assessed sparrow Western Sturnella neglecta Secure Not assessed meadowlark Eastern kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus Secure Not assessed

1.2.5 Butterflies and moths

Butterflies, like birds, “are widely considered to be good indicators of the health of the environment” (Harding et al. 1995). Butterflies have been found to be the most prairie remnant-dependent of all insects (Panzer et al. 1995 cited in Debinski and Babbit 1997) and there is a close association between endemic butterflies of the Peace region and remnant

native grasslands. No other region of northern Alberta has as high a diversity of butterflies or as many species (23) with disjunct or edge-of-range populations (Kondla et al. 1994) as the Peace region. Grassland-dependent butterflies in the Peace region are physically separated from their main southern populations by a large area of boreal forest, which likely reduces marked exchanges between the two populations. As a result, nine species of disjunct populations occur in the Peace region grasslands (Table 4).

Butterfly species that are dependent on native grass species typically use non-agricultural sites; an association that is clearly influenced by larval host plant requirements (Fleishman et al. 1999). This degree of habitat affinity is particularly significant for four butterfly species found in the Peace region: plains skipper (Hesperia assiniboia), Alberta arctic (Oeneis Alberta) and Uhler’s arctic (Oeneis uhleri varuna), which all feed on native grasses, and Pike’s Old World swallowtail which is endemic to the Peace Region and listed as a ‘Lower priority candidate’ by the Committee of the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) (2004). Pike’s Old World swallowtail (Papilio machaon pikei), which feeds exclusively on dragonwort (Artemisia dracunculus) in the Peace region is restricted to eroded native slopes of the Peace River and its tributaries (Bird et al. 1995, Hervieux 2002).

Moths and butterflies may also serve as biological indicators for a diversity of arthropods. Many elements of the biology of moths are shared with butterflies. For instance, many species of moths, like butterflies, are entirely dependent on a single plant species and hence, their occurrence is determined by the presence of a specific plant community. Some species are expected to be limited to native grasslands and therefore should be exceedingly vulnerable to habitat loss. There may be about 10 times as many moth species as there are butterfly species in Alberta; though very little is known about moth communities in the province.

Table 4. Peace region grassland butterfly species of interest and their provincial general species status and ANHIC rank.

Common Scientific ANHIC S Provincial general name name rank species status

Gorgone checkerspot Chlosyne gorgone carlota S2 Sensitive

* Alberta arctic Oeneis Alberta S1S2 Sensitive

Pike’s Old World Papilio machaon pikei S1S2 Sensitive swallowtail

* Northern checkerspot Chlosyne palla S1S2 Secure

* Plains (Assiniboine) Hesperia assiniboia S1S2 Secure skipper

Garita skipper Oarisma garita S4 Secure

Uhler’s arctic Oeneis uhleri varuna S5 Secure

* Coral hairstreak Satyrium titus S1S2 Secure

* Striped hairstreak Satyrium liparops fletcheri S1S2 Undetermined

* The ANHIC ranks are for the Peace region populations only.

1.3 Study objectives

The objectives of this project were to: i) locate remnant patches of native grasslands, ii) complete field assessments to quantify plant communities, and iii) using GIS tools, map the location of remnant patches of native grasslands in the Peace region of northwest Alberta. We also addressed specific questions related to the first two objectives:

Goal 1. Location of remnant native grasslands:

a) Where are upland native grasslands, valley native grasslands, and moist native meadows located? b) Based on current information, what is the areal extent of current patches of native grassland? c) Who owns or manages the native upland grassland remnants?

Goal 2. Quantifying plant communities

a) Which plant species occur in upland native grasslands? b) What is the condition of upland native grasslands? c) Which rare plants are found in upland native grasslands? d) What is the distribution and occurrence of butterflies associated with upland native grasslands? e) What is the relationship between plants and butterflies that are disjunct, endemic or reliant on native grasslands of the Peace region?

2.0 STUDY AREA

2.1 Description

The study area encompasses a 43,203 km2 area located in northwest Alberta (Figure 2). This region includes administrative areas of the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD) in northwest Alberta and overlaps with the Alberta portion of the Peace Parkland Biome area identified by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). Efforts were focused mainly within settled portions in this study area (i.e., white zone). The study extends from Valleyview in the south to High Level in the north, and Slave Lake in the east to the Alberta/British Columbia border in the west (Figure 2).

2.2 Natural region, climate and soils

Parkland areas that support grasslands in the Peace region are included in the Peace Parkland and Dry Mixedwood Natural Subregions, which are part of the Boreal Mixedwood ecological area (Achuff 1994, Alberta Environmental Protection, Beckingham and Archibald 1996). The Peace Parkland is a transition zone separated from the Central Parkland by 500 km of forest and is surrounded by boreal forest. The Dry Mixedwood component of the boreal forest includes the Debolt, Dunvegan, Falher, Smoky, Grimshaw, Manning, High Level, and Boyer plains ecodistricts (Willoughby 2000).

Figure 2. Location of the study area in the white zone (i.e. settled) in northwest Alberta. White zone = settled, green zone = non-settled.

Grasslands are generally located on the broad, gently rolling plains and steep sided river valleys (Achuff 1994, Alberta Environmental Protection 1997). The area is drained by the Mackenzie River via the Peace River and its tributaries. The climate is sub-humid (annual precipitation = 350-440 mm), with short cool summers and long cold winters (Achuff 1994, Alberta Environmental Protection 1997). Average summer temperature is 13.8 oC and the region experiences 1150 growing degree days (i.e., relative amount of energy available for plant growth, Strong and Leggat 1992). Soils of the grasslands are mostly Solonetzic (Wilkinson and Johnson 1983, Achuff 1994, Alberta Environmental Protection 1997).

2.3 Plant communities

Depending on moisture, the Parkland comprises a mosaic of aspen forest, upland and wetland scrub, grassland, marsh, and aquatic plant communities (Bird 1961). Grassland communities in the Peace River Parkland are closely related to the Northern Fescue communities, but rough fescue (Festuca scabrella) is absent (Achuff 1994, Moss 1952). The grasslands are dominated by native grasses, particularly wheat grasses (Agropyron spp.), western porcupine grass, June grass, sedge, intermediate oatgrass (Danthonia intermedia), and numerous forbs (Moss 1952, Wilkinson 1981, Wallis 1982, Kershaw et al. 2001). A listing of expected plant communities in the Peace region is shown in Appendix 1.

2.4 Animal communities

Large wildlife species found in the Peace River Parkland Natural Subregion are more closely related to the surrounding forested areas than the southern parkland. Some of the common large species are moose (Alces alces), whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus), black bear (Ursus americanus), and wolf (Canis lupus, Achuff 1994, Alberta Environmental Protection 1997).

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Site selection

Air photo interpretation was chosen as being the most effective and efficient initial method to locate potential remnants of native grasslands (Baker 2002) and recent black and white air photos taken in 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001 (primarily at a 1:30,000 scale) were used to identify upland native grassland, valley native grassland, moist native meadows, and sphagnum peatlands (Table 5) using definitions shown in Table 6.

Table 5. Definition of terms used to classify polygons through air photo interpretation.

Classification Definition

Upland native Upland; unbroken/uncultivated; rough or uneven texture, as opposed grasslands to smooth texture suggesting tame pasture; low cover of trees and shrubs.

Valley native Generally south or west facing open slopes of major rivers and grasslands tributaries draining the Peace region and open areas down slope. Note: due to the complexity of valley vegetation communities, trees were included in the polygons where differentiating grassland from the tree portion would be too time consuming and costly.

Moist native Generally forest openings and open riparian areas suggesting meadows primarily grass cover as opposed to depressional areas likely to be wetlands; no evidence of standing water.

Sphagnum Perched sphagnum bogs typically small in area, in upland situations peatlands and ringed by a moat-like wetland. Bogs may be dominated by Labrador tea or by black spruce.

Table 6. Definition of terms used in data collection.

Term Definition

Interpreted An area (separated by topography, vegetation or distance) determined by polygon air photo interpretation which had high potential to contain either upland native grassland, valley native grassland, moist native meadow, or sphagnum peatland

Polygon The polygon that was created when a large interpreted polygon that portion extended over more than one quarter section, was dissected by a quarter line

Site Quarter section (65 hectares) that contained any interpreted polygon/s or portion/s thereof

Microplot 20 x 50 cm quadrat area that was sampled in a representative area of a site’s upland native grassland polygon, to determine vegetation cover and species composition

Regardless of land ownership or quarter section boundaries, polygons were interpreted to 3-4 hectares in size, or as small as could be discerned by the experienced contractor who interpreted the aerial photographs. Polygons were outlined on a clear film 1:50,000 scale NTS mapsheet, which showed the most recently available (1997-2001) Indian Resources Satellite (IRS) image and Alberta Township System (ATS) information. Interpreted polygons were digitized and the spatial data set was created in an Arcview 3.2 shapefile format, which is stored at the ACA Peace River office. A segment of a map-sheet showing the interpretation product is shown in Figure 3.

This method follows the procedure used by the Native Vegetation Inventory and GIS Mapping-Central Parkland Natural Region project (R. Bjorge, ASRD, pers. comm.) to provide results comparable to other mapping initiatives. The main deviations in methods were: i) the smaller size of grassland remnants in the Peace region (3-4 hectares in size compared to 65 hectares patches elsewhere and ii) minor differences in the composition of plant communities.

Sites chosen for on-site verification were generally prioritized by land ownership (i.e., private land had higher priority than grazing lease, vacant crown land or protected areas), size (larger polygons had higher priority), location (upland sites away from river drainages had higher priority than those near valley slopes), and distribution (clusters or sites owned by same landowner had higher priority than isolated islands). This 14

prioritization was based on conservation focus of ACA, and includes many potential grassland prairie remnants located on private lands. Ungrazed sites are known to have higher plant, butterfly and bird diversity and are of greater conservation interest to project partners. Larger sites were more likely to be intact and may be the cost effective sites to conserve. Remnants that are clustered represent more effective habitat for butterflies, and time efficiencies were gained when dealing with a single landowner versus multiple landowners.

3.2 Data collection

While the interpretation of aerial photography provides a useful means to identify potential remnant patches of native grasslands, field assessments are required to verify their occurrence. Sites were visited to confirm their status as native remnants. If a spatial polygon was classified as being native upland grassland based on the field assessment, additional data were collected. If a polygon was found to be modified or composed primarily of native shrubland, no further work was done. To provide complementary data, polygon classification was based on criteria used by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Public Lands and Forest Division, using definitions shown in Table 7 (Willoughby 2000, Adams et al. 2003).

Table 7. Definitions of terms used to classify polygons.

Term Definition

Native Not cleared or broken, more than 30% native species

Modified Cleared, broken, or more than 70% non-native species either through overgrazing which resulted in a Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) dominated community, or the domination of introduced species like awnless brome (Bromus inermis)

Grassland No overstory tree canopy, dominated by grass or forb species

Shrubland No overstory tree canopy, dominated by shrubs taller than 0.5 m

Plants were identified using Moss (1983) except for Ophioglossaceae syn. Botrychiaceae, which were identified using Williston (2001). Common names follow those defined by Alberta Environmental Protection (1993).

3.2.1 Vegetation relative abundance, flowering and inventory

During the traverse of a native grassland polygon, the relative abundance of each plant species was recorded by using the ACFOR scale which assigns relative abundance codes: of A = abundant, AL = locally abundant, C = common, CL = locally common, F = frequent, FL = locally frequent, O = occasional, OL = locally occasional, R = rare (Kent and Coker 1992).

Flowering forbs and shrubs were given an international phenology code related to the stage of flowering of the plant at the time (Dierschke 1972) (Table 8). Plant canopy cover and composition were recorded following Robertson and Adams (1990). Briefly, ten microplots were regularly spaced along a transect line which cut through the middle of a native upland grassland polygon. In each microplot, canopy cover was estimated and a cover class was given to each forb and graminoid species, exposed soil, litter, and moss and lichen. At every second microplot, litter was collected and later oven-dried and weighed to determine vegetation productivity. Woody species were described by estimating their density, height, and percent of the polygon area covered.

3.2.2 Range health assessment

The range health of a site was determined by comparing the plant community of the site with a reference plant community that showed the potential natural community structure for the site under light grazing. As reference sites for upland native grasslands of the Peace region had not been developed for use in the Range Health Assessment tool, the regional ASRD Public Lands Range Management Specialist, Mr. Colin Stone, provided descriptions and a number of ‘best approximation’ sites that could be used as reference sites. Site integrity and ecological status, community structure, hydrologic function and nutrient cycling, site stability and presence of noxious weeds were also evaluated (Adams et al. 2003). A site was classified as ‘healthy’ if it scored between 75-100%, ‘healthy with

problems’ with a score between 50-74% and ‘unhealthy’ if it scored less than 50%.

Table 8. Stage of flowering and corresponding phenology codes.

Stage of forb and shrub flowering Phenology code

Without blossom R0

Blossom buds recognizable R1

Blossom buds strongly swollen R2

Shortly before flowering R3

Beginning bloom R4

Up to 25% in blossom R5

Up to 50 % in blossom R6

Full bloom R7

Fading R8

Completely faded R9

Bearing green fruit R10

Bearing ripe fruit R11

Bearing overripe fruit R12

Fruit or seed dispersal R13

3.2.3 Documentation of rare plants, butterflies and moths

3.2.3.1 Rare plants

ANHIC provided a list of plant element occurrences in or within 10 km of the Peace River Parkland Subregion as of June 6th 2001, plant tracking lists of plants with one or more occurrences mapped within 2.5 km of the Dry Mixedwood and Peace River Parkland Natural Subregions dated April 5th 2000 (ANHIC 2000), and plant communities of conservation concern within each Natural region as of 2001 (ANHIC 2001), which was subsequently updated in April 2002.

Element occurrence records from ANHIC existed for short-beaked rigid screw moss (Aloina brevirostris), Herriot’s sagewort, leather grape fern, purple sedge (Carex mertensii), Carolina wild geranium, Melanelia subelegantula, Canadian rice grass, floating-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton natans), and pale blue-eyed grass (ANHIC 2001). Of these, Herriot’s sagewort, leather grape fern, Carolina wild geranium, Canadian rice grass, and pale blue-eyed grass could be expected to be found in native grassland habitats, and were all expected to be flowering during the field period.

Tracked herbaceous and shrubland communities likely to be found in the grasslands of the Peace region included slender wheat grass-awned sedge, slender wheat grass-sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata), slender wheat grass-needle grass, western porcupine grass-green needle grass-sedges, saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia)-common bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)-northern rice grass (Oryzopsis pungens), June grass-western wheat grass, western wheat grass-Herriot’s sagewort-pasture sagewort (Artemisia frigida), and northern wheat grass (Elymus lanceolatus syn. Agropyron dasystachyum)-western wheat grass (Allen 2002).

Surveys for rare plants followed methods described by Alberta Native Plant Council (ANPC) (2000) and were conducted at the same time as the site visits throughout the growing season (17 May - 17 August, 2001; 5 June - 12 August, 2002; 3 June – 8 August, 2003). Surveys were completed by a single field crew that was able to complete assessments at one to four sites in a single day. Because sites were only visited once, it is possible that a number of particularly rare species may not have been encountered and that plant diversity may be underestimated. The time spent assessing sites varied from 0.5 to 7 hours depending on the site size and complexity. Plant identification, using specimens, was verified by a number of recognized experts including Lorna Allen, Ksenija Vujnovic and Patsy Cotterill (ANHIC) and Patrick Williston (Mnium Ecological Research). Photographs of the plants and surrounding habitats were taken and a single voucher specimen was collected where more than one plant was present.

3.2.3.2 Butterflies

Butterflies were surveyed at a total of 68 sites in 2001- 2003 (19 sites between 19 June and

17 August in 2001, 18 sites between 6 June and 24 July in 2002, and 31 sites between 3 June and 8 August 2003). Time spent catching, observing and identifying butterflies at a site ranged between five minutes and three hours, and averaged about 30 minutes. Approximately 40 hours were spent completing butterfly surveys during the three-year study period.

Individual surveys of butterflies were completed when weather conditions were suitable (warm, sunny, calm) and followed Hervieux (2002) to ensure compatibility between other surveys. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying disjunct or grassland dependent species including plains skipper, garita skipper, Pike’s Old World swallowtail, coral hairstreak, striped hairstreak, gorgone checkerspot, northern checkerspot, Uhler’s arctic, and Alberta arctic. Dr. Felix Sperling and Chris Schmidt Department of Biological Sciences (University of Alberta) verified voucher specimens.

3.2.3.3 Moths

Active netting for diurnal (day flying) moth species occurred concurrently with the butterfly survey between 3 June and 8 August in 2003. Light trapping for nocturnal (night active) moths followed methods described by Lawrie (2002) and included the use of ethyl acetate as a killing agent. Light traps were monitored regularly over 17 nights between 7 June and 4 October 2003 on a remnant of native grassland located on an upland slope northeast of the town of Peace River. Light traps were set up opportunistically at eight other sites near field camp locations between 5 June and 11 July in 2003. Specimens were submitted to Chris Schmidt at the University of Alberta for identification.

3.2.4 Mapping

For polygons that were verified as being native upland grassland, a hand-held GPS unit (Trimble Geo and Trimble GeoExplorer) was used to capture the native grassland perimeter and microplot locations. Where a polygon was bounded with shrubs, the grassland perimeter was defined as the boundary where shrubs were less than 0.5 m in height.

4.0 RESULTS

4.1 Site Identification

4.1.1 Air photo interpretation

Air photo interpretation enabled comprehensive identification of polygons over a very large area. To reduce the probability of not identifying remnants of grassland, the contractor included many sites (i.e., polygons) that represented a low probability of being remnant patches of grassland. Air photos ranged in age from one to 19 years, and changes to the landscape (management or natural growth) were expected to have occurred since the older photos were taken. By using the older photographic images, I gained an idea of how native grasslands disappear or change over relatively short periods of time, which adds impetus to conserving these areas while we still have the opportunity. The use of old photos increased the requirement for extensive ground verification.

Through air photo interpretation, 10,739 potential polygons and 290 questionable polygons were identified, and distributed amongst the classification codes summarized in Table 9. The size of interpreted upland native grassland polygons varied from 0.04 ha to 403.3 ha, with an overall average of 2.4 ha. Interpreted polygons were grouped into size categories to gain an idea of size distribution and these categories are defined in Table 10. Locations of these polygons are shown in Figure 4.

Table 9. Classification, number and area of interpreted polygons. Question marks define areas which were only likely to support remnant patches of grasslands.

Number of interpreted Area Classification polygons (ha)

Upland native grassland 1,002 2,431.8

Upland native grassland? 147 392.0

Valley native grassland 6,699 27,867.6

Valley native grassland? 30 140.3

Moist native meadow 984 1,073.4

Moist native meadow? 85 289.9

Sphagnum peatland 2,054 4,438.3

Sphagnum peatland? 28 105.0

TOTAL 11,029 36,738.3

Table 10. Size categories of interpreted polygons that potentially supported remnant patches of native grasslands in northwest Alberta.

Interpreted polygon Definition size category

Minute ≤ 1.0 ha

Tiny 1.1 ha - 3.0 ha

Small 3.1 ha - 10.0 ha

Medium 10.1 ha - 30 ha

Large 30.1 ha - 65 ha

Extra-large ≥ 65.1 ha

W E

Upland Native Grass 2001-2003

50 0 50 100 150 Kilometers

Figure 4. Location of interpreted upland native grassland polygons in northwest Alberta.

Figure 5 groups the interpreted upland native grassland polygons into size categories and shows how many polygons contribute to each group and to the total area of upland native grassland polygons in each size category. Most of the polygons were ≤ 10 ha and only a few exceeded 65 ha. Fifty five percent of all polygons were defined as minute in size, 31% were tiny, 12% were small, 2% were medium, 0.5% were large and only 0.1% were defined as extra-large. Of the area contributed by each size category, 13% of the area was made up of minute polygons, 22% were made up of tiny polygons, 25% were made up of small polygons, 13% were made up of medium-sized polygons, 10% were made up of large polygons, and 17% were made up of extra-large polygons.

700.0 600 ) 600.0 500 (ha

gons 500.0 gons

400 poly d

400.0 te e r d poly p

te 300 r e r 300.0 p r

200 of inte r inte

200.0 e b of a m e u r 100 N

A 100.0

0.0 0 Minute Tiny Small Medium Large Extra-large Interpreted polygon size category

Area of interpreted polygons Number of interpreted polygons

Figure 5. Area and number of interpreted upland native grassland polygons.

The size of interpreted native grassland polygons in valleys varied from 0.01 ha to 1296.8 ha, with an average of 4.16 ha. Figure 6 groups the interpreted valley native grassland polygons into size categories and shows how many polygons contribute to each group and the total area of polygons in each category. Most of the polygons were minute in size, but

nearly 60 polygons were large and more than 50 were extra-large. Fifty four percent of polygons were classified as minute, whereas 28% were identified as tiny, 13% were small, 3% were medium, 1% was large, and 1% were classified as extra-large. Of the area each size category contributed, 7% of the area was made up of minute polygons, 12% was made up polygons defined as tiny, 17% was made up polygons defined as small. Further, an additional 13% of polygons were defined as medium in size, 9% was made up polygons defined as large, and 42% was made up polygons defined as extra-large in size (Figure 6). Locations of these grassland remnants are shown in Figure 7.

14000.0 4000

3500

s 12000.0 gons

gon 3000 10000.0 poly

2500 d d poly te

e 8000.0 e t r e a) p r 2000 r (h p r

e 6000.0 t 1500 in of inte

4000.0 r of e

a 1000 b e r m A 2000.0 500 u N

0.0 0 Minute Tiny Small Medium Large Extra-large Interpreted polygon size category

Area of interpreted polygons Number of interpreted polygons

Figure 6. Area and number of interpreted valley native grassland polygons.

W E

Valley Native Grass 2002-2003

50 0 50 100 150 Kilometers

Figure 7. Map showing location of interpreted valley native grassland polygons in northwest Alberta. 25

The size of interpreted moist native meadow polygons varied from 0.04 ha to 22.14 ha, with an average of 1.09 ha. Figure 8 groups the interpreted moist native meadow polygons into size categories and shows how many polygons contribute to each group and the total area of polygons in each category. Most of the polygons were minute in size and none were identified as being large or extra-large. Sixty nine percent of polygons were defined as minute in size, 25% of polygons were defined as tiny in size, 5% of polygons were defined as small in size, and 1% of polygons were defined as medium in size (Figure 9). Of the area contributed by each size category, 33% of the area was made up of minute polygons, 38% was tiny, 21% was small, and 8% was medium. Locations of these polygons are shown in Figure 9.

450.0 800

400.0

) 700 a h ons ( 350.0 600 g ns ly

go 300.0 po y l

500 d o te p

250.0 e r d e p

t 400 r e

r 200.0 p r

e 300 t

150.0 of inte r in e b

of 200 a 100.0 m e u r N A 50.0 100

0.0 0 Minute Tiny Small Medium Interpreted polygon size category

Area of interpreted polygons Number of interpreted polygons

Figure 8. Area and number of interpreted moist native meadow polygons.

W E

Moist Native Grass 2002-2003

50 0 50 100 150 Kilometers

Figure 9. Map showing the location of interpreted moist native meadow polygons in northwest Alberta.

The size of interpreted sphagnum peatland polygons varied from 0.04 ha to 121.1 ha, with an average of 2.16 ha. Figure 10 groups the interpreted sphagnum peatland polygons into size categories and shows how many polygons contribute to each group and the total area of polygons in each category. Most of the polygons were minute in size and very few medium or larger in size. Fifty three percent of polygons were defined as minute in size, 32% of polygons were defined as tiny, 11% of polygons were defined as small in size, 3% of polygons were defined as medium in size, whereas 1% 0.05% of polygons were defined as large or extra large in size, respectively (Figure 10). Of the area each size category contributed, 14% of the area was made up of minute-sized polygons, 26% of the area was made up of tiny polygons, 25% of the area was made up of small polygons, 21% of the area was made up of medium-sized polygons, whereas 11% and 3% of the area were made up of large and extra large polygons, respectively (Figure 10). Locations of these polygons are shown in Figure 11.

1200.0 1200 )

a 1000.0 1000 h ( gons ly o

gons 800.0 800 d p e t e r d poly e p

t 600.0 600 r e e r p r int e

400.0 400 of r int e b of a m e u r 200.0 200 N A

0.0 0 Minute Tiny Small Medium Large Extra-large Interpreted polygon size category

Area of interpreted polygons Number of interpreted polygons

Figure 10. Area and number of interpreted sphagnum peatlands in the Peace region of Alberta.

W E

Sphagnum Bog 2002-2003

50 0 50 100 150 Kilometers

Figure 11. Map showing the location of interpreted sphagnum peatlands in northwest Alberta.

4.1.2 Land ownership

Sites for field verification were based on quarter section boundaries, as each quarter was viewed as a separate management unit, often with different owners and management practices. Large interpreted polygons that crossed quarter lines were divided digitally by the quarter boundary and this resulted in ‘polygon portions’, which is shown diagrammatically in Figure 12. How this affected the number of sites to be visited is given in Table 11. We only determined sites for interpreted upland native grasslands and questionable upland native grasslands, as these were our field focus. By separating the interpreted polygons into sites, the legal land locations could be used to gain permission from appropriate landowners for land access and can be used for subsequent management and stewardship activities.

Figure 12. Graphical representation of how a large interpreted polygon that extends over four quarter sections can be divided into quarter boundaries representing four polygon portions (A, B, C, D). Each quarter is treated separately for field checking. The interpreted polygons or portions thereof on each site are referred to as potential upland native grassland until they are field checked.

Table 11. The number of sites and the number of interpreted polygons and how this number is affected by divided along quarter line boundaries.

Number of Number of polygons after Air-photo interpretation Number interpreted being divided by quarter classification of sites polygons section boundaries

Upland native grassland 1,002 1,394 823

Questionable upland 147 205 129 native grassland

TOTAL 1,149 1,599 952

In total, 929 sites were identified as either questionable or potential upland native grasslands and 23 had both questionable and potential upland native grassland polygons. Figure 13 shows the number and area of these sites as it relates to the portion of the quarter section that the potential native grassland covers. Most of the sites had small areas of potential native grassland. Nearly one half (45%) of the area of potential native grasslands was located on 8% of the sites. The coverage of potential upland native grasslands on a site was less than one legal subdivision (LSD) (1 LSD = 40 ac = 16.19 ha) for 97% of the sites, and this comprised 72% of the total area of upland native grasslands. Approximately 100 of the 374 sites (40%) that were one hectare or less were polygon slivers that were created in the digitizing process and when large polygons crossing a quarter line were divided. These sites were not viewed as potential upland native grasslands for field verification purposes.

700.0 400

e 600.0 350 b o 300 nd t

a 500.0 l ) s a s s h e a

( 250 t

si d gr 400.0 f e v o i

t 200 ecke er

ch 300.0 mb d

nd na 150 el Nu i f 200.0 upla f 100 o a e r 100.0

A 50

0.0 0 0 - 1/64 1/64 - 1/32 1/32 - 1/16 1/16 - 1/8 1/8 - 1/4 1/4 - 1/2 1/2 - 1.0 Portion of site covered by potential and questionable upland native grassland Area of upland native grassland to be field checked Number of sites

Figure 13. Area and number of sites with potential and questionable upland native grasslands in northwest Alberta.

The potential and questionable upland native grassland sites were mostly (91%) in the white (settled) management zone, with 9% in the green (forested) zone and 0.4% under Indian reservation management. Over half of the sites were located on Crown properties (56%), 43% were in private ownership, with the remainder being mixed ownership (1%) and Indian reserves (0.2%). Of the Crown sites, grazing dispositions (grazing lease, grazing reserve, grazing permit, forest grazing lease) were present on 42% of the sites, 3% of sites were a farm development lease, 8% of sites were in a forestry management area and 10% of sites were protected areas (natural area, ecological reserve) or had a recreational lease. The remaining 37% were under other Crown management.

4.2 Field Results

4.2.1 Vegetation relative abundance, flowering and inventory

Relative abundance estimations of plant species were completed on 307 polygons from 197 sites surveyed in 2002 and 2003. Estimates were completed on grasslands and shrublands with species diversity of each polygon averaging 31 plant species (range = 1 and 80 species). In total 305 species of plants were identified, including 167 native forbs, 29 introduced forbs, 56 native graminoids (e.g., grasses, sedges, rushes), 14 introduced grasses, 38 native shrubs, and one introduced shrub. A complete listing of species is shown in Appendix 2. This compares to 36 species of graminoids, 84 species of forbs, and 19 species of woody plants for a total of 139 species of vascular plants identified in the Peace region by Moss (1952).

Detailed vegetation inventories were conducted on 98 sites. Plant diversity at each native site ranged from 16 to 49 species with an average of 28. The occurrence of introduced grasses and forbs was generally low at each site. Forbs comprised the largest proportion of species with between 6 and 29 species and an average of 17 at each site. Native grasses accounted for between 3 and 17 species with an average of 9 at each site. Up to 12 shrub species were identified at an individual site. Figure 14 shows a field crew conducting a vegetation inventory. Estimations of flowering time of species were completed at a total of 124 sites between 5 June and 12 August in 2002 and 76 sites between 4 June and 8 August in 2003. These data have not been analyzed.

Figure 14. Estimating and recording vegetation cover and GPS location of a micro plot. Photo by Darcy Meyers.

Plant communities were diverse both within and between sites. Examples of the diversity of upland native grasslands are shown in Figures 15 to 22.

Figure 15. A Photograph of beardtongue (Penstemon spp.) and arnica (Arnica spp.)- dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta.

Figure 16. A photograph of intermediate oat grass (Danthonia intermedia)- dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta.

Figure 17. A photograph of three-flowered avens (Geum triflorum)-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta.

Figure 18. A photograph of rough hair grass (Agrostis scabra)-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta.

Figure 19. A photograph of harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) and northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta.

Figure 20. A photograph of sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata)-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta.

Figure 21. A photograph of aster (Aster spp.) and intermediate oat grass-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta.

Figure 22. A photograph of western porcupine grass (Stipa curtiseta)-dominated native grassland in northwest Alberta.

Previously, little vegetation data on upland native grasslands of the Peace had been available for incorporation into a guide to plant communities. A sample of the grassland plant communities that were described by us, including the change of a plant community under grazing, is included in Appendix 3. A plant community guide for Peace region grasslands is now under development and the plant communities described during this study will be included.

4.2.2 Range health assessment

Range health was assessed on 95 sites between 2001 and 2003, of which 73 were located in upland native grasslands, six in native shrublands, one in valley native grassland, one in moist native grassland, seven in shrublands modified by introduced species, four in pastures modified by overgrazing, two in grasslands modified with introduced species, and one modified by cultivation. Of these, three sites were defined as unhealthy, 34 sites as healthy with problems and 58 sites as healthy. The 22 sites that were not upland native grasslands were assessed to gain a comparison with upland grassland sites.

Of the upland native grasslands, 50 sites (68%) were deemed to be healthy, 22 (30%) healthy with problems and one site (1%) was defined as unhealthy. Twenty three sites were assessed as having the highest health possible with a rating of 100%. Factors that affected the rating of sites included significant alterations in the plant community due to grazing or other disturbances, missing life form layers, and reduced amounts of litter. Most sites were stable with little evidence of accelerated erosion, and none of the sites had a noxious weed problem. Generally, the number of native forbs increased as range health improved and the number of grass species stayed the same, though the species and their abundance often changed. Forage production varied between 16 and 3,939 kg/ha on the 42 sites where litter was collected during 2002 and 2003.

Range health varied based on ownership (Table 12). The sample size of farm development leases and general Crown owned sites was very small, which makes any conclusions speculative. On average, sites on grazing leases were rated as: ‘healthy-with-problems’, while privately owned land was generally rated ‘healthy’. Despite higher sample sizes, further analysis is required before a conclusion can be made as to whether ownership affects range health.

Table 12. Range health of upland native grasslands under different ownership in northwest Alberta.

Number of upland Minimum Maximum Average Ownership native grassland sites range health range health range health assessed (%) (%) (%)

Private 58 53 100 85

Farm development lease 2 87 95 91

Grazing lease 10 45 98 72

Crown 3 100 100 100

4.2.3 Documentation of rare or significant plants, butterflies and moths

To obtain a comprehensive inventory of species (plant and wildlife) more time spent at a site, and multiple visits during a season and over a number of years would be required.

4.2.3.1 Plants

Three rare plant species were recorded: leather grape fern, low townsendia (Townsendia exscapa) and Carolina wild geranium. Rare plants were documented following the ANPCs guidelines (Alberta Native Plant Council 2000) and details were submitted to ANHIC for inclusion in their database. Voucher specimens are housed at the University of Alberta, Edmonton and ACA/Public Lands and Forests, Peace River herbaria. Locations of rare plants in northwest Alberta are shown in Figure 23, with photographs of these species shown in Figures 24-26.

Leather grape fern, shown in Figure 24 is ranked as S2 by ANHIC (Vujnovic and Gould 2002) as there are few element occurrences and a decline in population (ACD and ASRD 2000). It is unknown as to the effect of livestock grazing on populations of this plant and its habitat is threatened by conversion of natural habitats to monocultures (Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre 2001). Leather grape fern was observed at ten sites during 2001 and 2003. Previous observation of this species in the Peace River Parkland subregion was at a single site during 1972 (Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre 2001).

Low townsendia, shown in Figure 25, ranked as S2 (Vujnovic and Gould 2002), was observed at a single location during 2002, and while not shown as occurring in the Peace region in Kershaw et al. (2001), it was recorded in the Peace region by Moss (1983). Its habitat is threatened by the conversion of native grasslands to croplands (Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre 2001).

Figure 23. Map showing the location of rare plants that were observed during 2001-2003 in northwest Alberta.

Figure 24. Photo of leather grape fern (Botrychium multifidum).

Figure 25. A photograph of low townsendia (Townsendia exscapa). Photo by Tara Sample.

Carolina wild geranium, shown in Figure 26 is ranked as S1 (Vujnovic and Gould 2002). Its population status is unknown (ACD and ASRD 2000), as it is previously known from only seven locations in Alberta, all recorded about 50 years ago (K. Vujnovic pers. comm.). There are no known threats to Carolina wild geranium populations or the habitats it grows in (Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre 2001). The Peace region has a disjunct Alberta population and a single observation in the Peace River Parkland subregion was recorded in 1948 (Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre 2001). We

observed a single Carolina wild geranium plant during 2002.

Figure 26. A photograph of Carolina wild geranium (Geranium carolinianum).

Samples of plants with possible range extensions were collected, and details submitted to Joyce Gould at the University of Alberta/ANHIC who is working on an update to the book entitled: Flora of Alberta (Moss 1983). Voucher specimens are housed at the University of Alberta, Edmonton and Peace River ACA/Public Lands herbaria.

Due to environmental, climatic, and growth patterns, rare plants may not be visible within and between seasons, even when a thorough survey is done. Therefore, this survey can only be used to document the presence of species and not their absence (Cornish 2001). Combined with our single site visits and the short time devoted to conducting rare plant surveys, this suggests that the presence of rare plants is may to be much higher than documented here.

4.2.3.2 Butterflies

Butterflies were recorded at 68 sites, comprising at least 39 species (with an additional 12 only identified to genus) (Appendix 4). The number of species observed at each site ranged between one and 10, with an average of four. Species of swallowtail, blue,

common ringlet, sulphur, silvery blue, common wood nymph, and meadow fritillary were commonly encountered. Figures 27 and 28 illustrate field techniques to capture and process butterflies. The known Peace region flight time of butterflies was extended for the plains skipper which were seen four days earlier (i.e., on 31 July, 2001) than previously (i.e., 4 August). Dates for flight time comparisons were derived predominantly from Hervieux (2002), Kondla et al. (1994), Bird et al. (1995), and Schmidt et al. (2003). The locations where butterflies were recorded are shown in Figure 29.

Figure 27. A photograph showing the technique required to catch a flying butterfly.

Figure 28. A photograph of the process used to identify a captured butterfly.

Figure 29. Location of study sites where butterflies were surveyed in northwest Alberta, 2001-2003.

The Grassland Natural Region supports the main populations for a number of species

with disjunct populations found in the Peace region. Seven of these species were observed at nearly one-third (22 of the 68 sites) of all sites (i.e., Alberta arctic, Uhler’s arctic, Pike’s Old World swallowtail, striped hairstreak, coral hairstreak, plains skipper, and garita skipper).

The Peace region population of the Alberta arctic is ranked as S1S2 due to few occurrence records (10 records in northwestern Alberta) and its distribution, which is restricted to the threatened native grasslands in the Peace region (ANHIC 2001a). Uhler’s arctic is ranked as S5, however in British Columbia it is threatened due to habitat destruction in the Peace River valley (ANHIC 2001a). Pike’s Old World swallowtail (Figure 30) is a subspecies ranked S1S2 because it is only found along the Peace River and displays a high degree of host plant specialization (ANHIC 2001a). Figure 31 shows a Canadian tiger swallowtail.

Figure 30. A photograph of Pike’s Old World swallowtail (Papilio machaon pikei). Note the dark colour patch near the body and the black dot at the base of the red colour patch as compared with the more common Canadian tiger swallowtail shown in Figure 31. Photo by Adam James.

Figure 31. A photograph of Canadian tiger swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) taken through a plastic observation jar. Note the black ‘swords’, and two additional red patches on the wing edges, as compared with Pike’s Old World swallowtail in Figure 30. Photo by Adam James.

The Peace region population of striped hairstreak is ranked as S1S2 because of threats to its habitat (ANHIC 2001a). Similarly, the Peace region population of coral hairstreak is ranked as S1S2 as there are few records, it is a phenotypically distinct population and its habitat (native grasslands and saskatoon) is also threatened (ANHIC 2001a). The Peace region population of plains skipper is ranked S1S2, however unclear taxonomy may result in the Peace River population being recognized as a separate subspecies. This may result in a higher threat ranking due to threatened habitat (native grassland) (ANHIC 2001a). Garita skipper is ranked S4, however in the Peace region its habitat (native grasslands) is threatened (ANHIC 2001a). Figure 32 shows the habitats where the observed species were observed and illustrates the affinity each of the tracked butterflies has to native habitat.

7 6 s

te 5 i s f 4 o r

e 3 mb 2 Nu 1 0

r l . i k p ic ic e er ta a t sp. p re reak t s ct c ip pp w t t o ar ic k ki lo s s p t s s l ir ir s ta ar 's rc a r r r A ns it swa ha ha e e le ai r l d k lb l ld ra A Uh P Ga ipe hec or Co r C W St ld O 's ke Pi Disjunct butterfly species

Native grassland Native shrubland Modified

Figure 32. Disjunct grassland butterfly species and the habitats in which they were observed 2001-2003 in northwest Alberta.

It was hoped that we would collect sufficient information about flowering plants and butterflies at each site that we could determine a correlation between flowering plant and butterfly species. This was not achieved as we documented plants that were flowering (R5-R8) at only four sites that had corresponding disjunct butterflies present, and three of those butterflies are not known to use flowers as a food source.

4.2.3.3 Moths

Locations of sites surveyed for moths and where they were found are shown in Figure 33. Appendix 5 provides a list of the 56 moth species that were identified during 2003, mostly from the valley native grassland site near the town of Peace River. Of particular interest are the delicate beauty (Oncocnemis cibalis) and silver-banded gem (Schinia cumatilis), which has not been previously recorded in the Peace Region. Both species are characteristic of southern prairie grasslands and appear to occur as geographically isolated populations in the Peace region. Also noteworthy is the Doris tiger (Grammia doris), which, while widely distribted, has been recorded from only a few sites in western Canada. Samples of other Grammia species were also collected to assist with future taxonomic work on this group.

Figure 33. Locations of moth survey and capture sites for 2003 in northwest Alberta.

4.2.4 Mapping

Based on comparisons with pre-settlement levels (Wilkinson 1981), the results from this study suggest that only 0.2 to 0.4% (i.e., 1,956 ha) of the original upland native grassland remains. This estimate assumes that all the unverified sites are confirmed as upland native grasslands. The amount of remaining native grassland estimated may decrease further to 0.1% to 0.2% if none of the unverified sites represent native grassland.

Table 13 shows the number of potential upland native grassland sites and polygons that were verified with field assessments. This translates to 46% of sites, 47% of polygons divided by quarter section and resulted in verifications of 70% of the area. Verified upland native grassland sites are shown in Figure 34. As discussed previously (See section 3.2.2), potential and questionable upland native grasslands were compared with reference sites to provide consistent site classifications. Reference sites are shown in Figures 35-43.

Table 13. Number and area of verified upland native grassland and questionable upland native grassland polygons in northwest Alberta.

Number of verified Air photo interpretation Number of Area verified polygons after division with classification verified sites (ha) quarter section boundaries

Upland native grassland 329 529 1,524.2

Questionable upland native 66 114 302.7 grassland

TOTAL 395 643 1,826.9

Figure 34. Map of upland native grassland sites in northwest Alberta that were verified with field assessments between 2001 and 2003.

Figure 35. A photograph of an upland native grassland used as a reference site in northwest Alberta.

Figure 36. A photograph of a valley of native grassland used as a reference site in northwest Alberta.

Figure 37. A photograph of a sand dune area used as a reference site in northwest Alberta.

Figure 38. A photograph of moist native grassland used as a reference site in northwest Alberta. Note the willow (Salix spp.).

Figure 39. A photograph of native shrubland used as a reference site in northwest Alberta. Photo by Tara Sample.

Figure 40. A photograph of a modified cultivated site used as a reference site in northwest Alberta.

Figure 41. A photograph of modified introduced site used as a reference in northwest Alberta. Note the nearly exclusive stand of awnless brome (Bromus inermis).

Figure 42. A photograph of modified shrubland used as a reference site in northwest Alberta. Note the domination of shrubs and introduced species including dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and awnless brome.

Figure 43. A photograph of a modified overgrazed site used as a reference in northwest Alberta. Note the low height of the vegetation, lack of vegetation structure, cattle trailing, and plant community dominated by Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis).

Incidental verification of valley native grasslands, moist native meadows, and sphagnum peatlands occurred when these sites were located adjacent to an upland native grassland site that was being verified. Despite verifying 132 sites that contained potential valley native grasslands, this only represented 3% of the potential sites and 2% of the potential area. Only a few sphagnum peatlands and moist native grasslands were field checked.

Table 14 shows the classification of verified upland native grasslands. In total, verified upland native grasslands comprised only 746.1 hectares of the total area verified. Figure 44 shows the proportion of the total verified area for each of the classified polygons types. Of note is that 57% of verified polygons (divided by quarter section boundary), which covered 37% of the area, were modified (mostly through introduced species and shrub encroachment) and 43% of the polygons covering 63% of the area represented native cover. Only 14% of the polygons, which covered 43% of the area, were classified as

upland native grassland. Shrub encroachment was the second most predominant factor altering the status of patches. Of the potential questionable upland native grasslands that were verified, 74% of polygons, which covered 76% of the area, were modified. Only 6% of the questionable polygons, covering 19% of the area, were verified as upland native grasslands.

Table 14. Classification of verified upland native grasslands (polygons divided by quarter section boundary).

Number of verified Area of verified polygons Classification polygons (ha)

MODIFIED

Cultivated 36 76.0

Introduced species 155 291.7

Overgrazed 64 156.7

Introduced species in shrubland 102 150.1

TOTAL 357 674.5

NATIVE

Upland grassland 85 746.1

Moist meadow 11 36.8

Shrubland 140 290.5

Valley grassland 8 35.9

Sand dune (ricegrass community) 22 24.3

TOTAL 266 1,133.6

GRAND TOTAL 623 1,808.1

Modified - Cultivated 4% Modified - Introduced species 16% Native - Upland grassland 42% Modified - Overgrazed 9% Modified - Introduced species in shrubland Native - Sand dune 8% (ricegrass community) 1% Native - Moist Native - Valley meadow grassland Native - Shrubland 2% 2% 16%

Figure 44. Chart showing the proportion of the verified area of polygons (divided by quarter section boundary) that each classification type of upland native grassland contributes.

5.0 DISCUSSION

5.1 Key findings and management considerations

Native upland grasslands are biologically diverse both within and between remnants and contain rare plants and a diversity of plant communities, some of which are likely unique to northwest Alberta. Native grasslands also provide important and often critical habitat for butterflies and other invertebrate assemblages.

Prior to this project, very little was known about the abundance, location and ecological characteristics of native grasslands in the Peace region. This project confirmed the occurrence of 746 ha of upland native grassland with an additional 1,210 ha that still requires field verification. My estimates also suggest that the loss of native grasslands since settlement by Europeans has been substantial and that existing remnants of native grassland represent <0.5% of that initially present. Additionally, existing remnants exist predominantly as small fragments, and apart from a few clusters, are widely distributed.

Continued encroachment of introduced species (particularly awnless brome), encroachment by shrubs and inappropriate livestock grazing practices represent the dominant challenges to the persistence of native grasslands. While I advocate efforts to identify additional remnants of native grassland, conservation efforts should focus primarily on conserving existing areas of native grasslands to ensure that they persist. Failure to do so will almost certainly result in the total loss of native grasslands in the Peace region.

Changes in current management practices, including restricting the use of remnants of existing grasslands for livestock feeding and reductions in the storage or cleaning of equipment, which serve as sources of non-native plant species introductions, would also reduce the inadvertent introduction of these species. Introductions of non-native species could also be reduced by developing vegetation buffers, comprised of native species, adjacent to known patches of native grasslands. If this option was exercised, it is preferable to collect native seed from adjacent sites to prevent possible genetic drifting that could be detrimental to the wild population. The ANPC and others have developed guidelines that address these concerns (ANPC 2002, Guinon 1993).

Through air photo interpretation and field verification, I developed a GIS layer that describes the location and spatial extent of existing patches of native grasslands. This tool is being used for conservation planning for the remaining native remnants and can be used to plan conservation and future research foci for other species.

The small size and scattered location of the majority of existing remnants of native grassland will pose challenges to managing them effectively and economically. Ecologically, all of these areas are important to butterflies, which can use a series of small remnants as ‘stepping stones’ from a large ‘source’ area (Launer and Murphy 1994) when little contiguous habitat is available for their use. Using limited observations of disjunct butterflies, there appears to be support for the affinity that these species have for native habitats. Conservation of these species, therefore, is dependent on the conservation of the habitats that they require.

From a cost effective viewpoint, the larger remnants should be targeted for conservation because they represent a substantial proportion of all existing native grasslands and they

appear to represent important habitats for butterflies. Smaller remnants should be considered as viable conservation targets if they are: i) located adjacent to larger remnants and ii) they are accompanied by landowners who are interested in their protection. When these areas have been addressed, efforts could shift to returning native shrublands to grassland areas through the use of prescribed burning, and increasing the size of these, and existing native grasslands through reclamation of adjacent areas.

With polygons being divided roughly equally between private and Crown ownership, effective conservation efforts will need to address both. Conservation efforts by ACA should focus on supporting private landowner stewardship actions in partnership with ASRD.

5.2 Further use of data

Cover class estimates for plant species, captured during transects have been provided to ASRD Public Lands and Forests Division-Range Management Branch to describe plant communities found in the upland native grasslands of the Peace region. ASRD staff will include this information on plant communities along with other range information in the development of a guide on range plant communities and carrying capacity for the grasslands of the Peace region. These plant communities will also be submitted to ANHIC to include in their plant community tracking database.

The underlying premise of range health assessments is to complete comparisons of reference plant communities to other sites. Prior to this study, little information on upland native grasslands of the Peace region existed, and the succession under grazing and other pressures is still not fully understood. Range health assessments, including litter weights, have been passed to ASRD Public Lands and Forests Division to incorporate into a rapid assessment tool.

Butterfly sightings and samples were provided to the ‘Survey of Native Grassland Butterflies in the Peace Parkland Region of Northwestern Alberta – 2001’ (Hervieux 2002) and ‘Transect Monitoring and Habitat Assessment for Native Grassland Butterflies in the Peace Parkland Region of Northwestern Alberta - 2002’ (Hervieux 2003), and to the University of Alberta’s Entomology Department. All butterfly and moth samples will be

stored at the University to assist in confirming species distributions and taxonomy.

Plant flowering stage (phenology) information was provided to the Butterfly Program (Hervieux 2003) to try and correlate butterflies nectaring and plants flowering. Further analysis of the flowering time data is possible, and once completed, this data will be submitted to the University of Alberta and Devonian Botanic Garden’s PlantWatch program, which records flowering times of Alberta plants. Plant specimens collected and mounted into herbarium samples are housed in the ASRD Public Lands and Forests Division herbarium at Peace River. The exceptions include samples of rare and disjunct species that extend the known range of these species and will be included in an updated Flora of Alberta. These samples are housed at the University of Alberta’s herbarium. Records of rare and tracked plant species were submitted to ANHIC to be included in the plant portion of the ANHIC tracking database.

Digital coverage of verified native grasslands has been provided to project conservation partners (NAWMP, DUC) for use in their conservation efforts. ACA will also use this information to help determine habitat priority areas, and overlap it with sharp-tailed grouse dancing grounds (leks) to identify priority areas for landowner stewardship activities. These areas are also the foundation of the Peace Native Grasslands Conservation Program, which is reported on separately (Rosendal and Baker 2004).

The location of sphagnum peatlands was conducted simultaneously with the air photo interpretation that identified potential native grasslands. The digitized information was submitted to DUC and NAWMP and was not field checked in this study.

5.3 Future work

Improved management of remnant patches of native grasslands represents the highest conservation measure to ensure the persistence of native grasslands in the Peace region. Without these, upland native grasslands will disappear from the Peace region landscape. As the remnants are so small, and many conservation and management strategies have been developed for larger areas of native vegetation, trials to test the usefulness of these methods on small remnants will be required. These trials could evaluate the effectiveness of alternative land management practices such as prescribed burning, rotational or

deferred livestock grazing regimes, and increasing the size of the remnants through reclamation. Reclamation of sensitive remnant areas is required to maintain genetic stock diversity and to provide the opportunity for these patches to naturally increase in size.

Vegetation data collected through the inventory has been helpful to gain a broader understanding of the composition of plant communities that comprise remnants of native grasslands. Further inventories at more sites will increase this knowledge and can be used to make more accurate descriptions of reference plant communities. It will also give a better sense of the diversity of native grassland plant communities in the Peace region.

Range Management staff from the ASRD Public Lands and Forests Division implemented a grazing exclosure on a grazing lease west of Clear Prairie during 2001 to monitor the effects of grazing pressure on this unique native grassland site. They plan on adding more long term monitoring sites on grazed, ungrazed, crown and private upland native grassland sites during 2004 to describe successional plant communities under grazing, and determine production capabilities of the plant communities.

The preliminary analysis here, suggesting that sites under Crown grazing dispositions scored lower range health values than those under private ownership needs to be investigated further before definitive conclusions can be made. Important elements to this analysis include the size and use of the remnants, i.e. grazing is the primary use of grazing dispositions, whereas, under private ownership these sites may be idle or only periodically used for grazing.

This study has shown that rare plants occur in native grassland remnants and future work to describe the population and extent of rare plants within native grasslands of the Peace region can now be focussed on native grassland sites that have been identified through this study.

There is limited knowledge about the food and nectar sources required for individual butterfly species. Further work on plant community types that support particular butterfly species may bridge this gap, and potentially, could result in identifying indicator species that predict butterfly occurrences. This would be especially helpful as butterflies vary within a season (flight time and climatic conditions) and between seasons, so it is

difficult to observe all species on a single visit. Further butterfly work could be done to assess known distributions. By revisiting the same sites throughout a season and over multiple seasons, a more complete list of butterfly species frequenting the site can be identified and trends documented. This is also true of moth species and further work is required to fill in the many gaps that currently exist.

6.0 COMMUNICATIONS

6.1 Presentations at conferences, workshops and meetings

• Peace Parkland Naturalists meeting, (February 25, 2002) Grande Prairie, Alberta. • Grande Prairie Science Festival – Become a Biologist (August 12, 2002) Grande Prairie, Alberta. • Snack ’n Yak, (June 24, 2003) Peace River, Alberta. • The Leading Edge – Conservation and Stewardship in Canada conference, (July 3 - 6, 2003) Victoria, British Columbia. • Agricultural Service Board tour (July 16 - 17, 2003) Grande Prairie, Alberta. • Alberta Institute of Agrologists meeting, (October 7, 2003) Peace River, Alberta. • Public Lands Rangeland Management workshop, (November 13, 2003) Edmonton, Alberta. • Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference, (February 26 - 29, 2004) Calgary, Alberta. • Kimiwan Naturalists meeting (May 6, 2004) McLennan, Alberta.

6.2 Posters displayed

• Grande Prairie Science Festival – Kleskun Hills Geological Picnic (August 10, 2002), Grande Prairie, Alberta. • Saskatoon Island Swan Festival (April 24 - 25, 2003), Grande Prairie, Alberta.

6.3 Articles and Interviews

See Appendix 6 for copies of articles listed below.

• Alberta Outdoorsman (July 15 -August 15, 2002) “Peace project defines native grasslands” • Record Gazette (August 13, 2002) “Butterflies grilled – rare?” • Innovation Alberta – CKUA Radio (December 31, 2002) #71 “Native Grasslands: Remnants of the Grande Prairie” www.innovationalberta.com • Biodiversity Makes it Work – NAWMP in Alberta (Volume 6, 2004) “An Inventory of Alberta’s Northern Grasslands”

7.0 LITERATURE CITED

Achuff, P.L. 1994. Natural regions, subregions and natural history themes of Alberta: A classification for protected areas management. Alberta Environmental Protection. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Adams, B.W. 1981. Range ecology and the impact of livestock grazing on the Peace River slopes, Alberta. Public Lands Division, Range Management Unit, Peace River, Alberta, Canada. Adams, B.W., G. Ehlert, C. Stone, M. Alexander, D. Lawrence, M. Willoughby, D. Moisey, C. Hincz and A. Bogen. 2003. Range health assessment for grassland, forest and tame pasture. Public Lands Division, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. Publication No. T/044. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 105 pp. Alberta Community Development, Parks and Protected Areas and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife (ACA and ASRD). 2000. Unpublished general status ranks for vascular plants of Alberta. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Alberta Environmental Protection. 1993. Alberta plants and fungi – Master species list and species group checklists, Alberta Environmental Protection. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Alberta Native Plant Council. 2000. ANPC guidelines for rare plant surveys in Alberta. Information Bulletin, March 2000. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Alberta Native Plant Council. 2002. Guidelines for the collection and use of native plants. Edited by Allen, L., Bush, D., Sinton, H., and Walker, D. April 26, 2002. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre (ANHIC). 2000. List of tracked vascular plants with one or more occurrences mapped within 2.5 km of a natural subregion, April 5, 2000, Alberta Community Development. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre. 2001. Element occurrence data - Plant element occurrences in or within 10 km of the Peace River Parkland Subregion, June 1, 2001, Alberta Community Development. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre (ANHIC). 2001a. Data files for butterflies and skippers, October 22, 2001, Parks and Protected Areas Division, Alberta Community Development. Edmonton, Alberta.

Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre (ANHIC). 2002. Explanation of ranks, October 9, 2002. http://www.cd.gov.ab.ca/preserving/parks/anhic/definitions.asp Allen, L. 2002. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre preliminary plant community tracking list, Alberta Community Development. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 51 pp. Anonymous (Anon.). 2001. The general status of Alberta wild species 2000. Alberta Fish and Wildlife, Sustainable Resource Development, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. URL: http://www3.gov.ab.ca/srd/fw/status/index.html Baker, A. 2002. Peace parkland native grassland stewardship program 2001/02. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 49. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 20 pp. Beckingham, J.D. and J.H. Archibald. 1996. Field guide to ecosites of northern Alberta. Special Report 5. Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Bird, C.D., G.J. Hilchie, N.G. Kondla, E.M. Pike and F.A.H. Sperling. 1995. Alberta butterflies. The Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 349 pp. Bird, R.D. 1961. Ecology of the aspen parkland of Western Canada in relation to land use. Canadian Department of Agriculture Research Branch. Publication No. 1066. COSEWIC. 2003. Canadian species at risk, November 2003. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 44 pp. COSEWIC. 2004. The COSEWIC candidate list, February 20, 2004. www.cosewic.gc.ab Cornish, B. 2001. Proposed protocol for rare plants survey in a lower foothills study area in the northern east slopes region. Unpublished report for Natural Resources Service. Edson, Alberta, Canada. Debinski, D.M. and A.M. Babbit. 1997. Butterfly species in native prairie and restored prairie. Prairie Naturalist 29:219-227. Dierschke H. 1972. Zur aufnahme und darstellung phänologischer erscheinungen in pflanzengesellschaften (English translation). Translated by: Runhild E. Wessell and Stephen S. Talbot. 1970 International Symposium for Vegetation Science, Rinteln, West Germany. The Hague. As listed in Anonymous. 1999. Rare native plant report form. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Alberta Environmental Protection. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Fleishman, E., G.T. Austin, P.F. Brussard and D.D. Murphy. 1999. A comparison of butterfly communities in native and agricultural riparian habitats in the Great Basin, USA. Biological Conservation 89:209-218. Gauch, H.G. 1982. Multivariate analysis in community ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 298 pp. Gerling, H.S., M.G. Willoughby, A. Schoepf, E.E. Tannas and C.A. Tannas. 1996. A guide to using native plants on disturbed lands. Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and Alberta Environmental Protection. Guinon, M. 1993. Promoting gene conservation through seed and plant procurement. In Landis, T.D., technical coordinator. In Proceedings, Western Forest Nursery Association: 1992 September 14 - 18; Fallen Leaf Lake, CA. General Technical Report Rm-221. Fort Collins, Colorado U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 38-46. Harding, P.T., J. Asher and T.J. Yates. 1995. Butterfly monitoring 1 – recording the changes. Pages 3-22. In Ecology and Conservation of Butterflies. A.S. Pullin, editor. Chapman and Hall. London, United Kingdom. Hervieux, M. 2002. Survey of native grassland butterflies in the Peace parkland region of northwestern Alberta – 2001. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division, Alberta Species at Risk Report No. 47. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 19 pp. Hervieux, M. 2003. Transect monitoring and habitat assessment for native grassland butterflies in the Peace parkland region of northwestern Alberta (2002): Preliminary results. A report to the Alberta Conservation Association. Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. 17 pp. Kent, M. and P. Coker. 1992. Vegetation description and analysis: A practical approach. John Wiley and Sons. United Kingdom. Kershaw, L.J., J. Gould, D. Johnson and J. Lancaster. 2001. Rare vascular plants of Alberta. University of Alberta Press, Edmonton, Alberta. 484 pp. Kondla, N.G., E.M. Pike and F.A.H. Sperling. 1994. Butterflies of the Peace River region of Alberta and British Columbia. Blue Jay 52(2): 71-90.

Lane, C.T, M.G. Willoughby, M.J. Alexander, Rangeland Health Assessment Project and Forest Rangeland Action Plan Teams. 2000. Range plant community types and carrying capacity for the lower foothills subregion of Alberta. 3rd approximation. Publication No. T/532. Alberta Environment, Land and Forest Service and Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Public Lands Division. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 232 pp. Launer, A.E. and D.D. Murphy. 1994. Umbrella species and the conservation of habitat fragments: A case of a threatened butterfly and a vanishing grassland ecosystem. Biological Conservation 69:145-153. Lawrie, D. 2002. 15 watt black light insect trap – operations manual. An Alberta Lepidopterist’s Guild publication. University of Illinois, Illinois, USA. Layberry, R.A., P.W. Hall and J.D. Lafontaine. 1998. The butterflies of Canada. University of Toronto Press. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 280 pp. Leonard, D.W. 2000. Delayed frontier – The Peace Country to 1909. Detselig Enterprises Ltd. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Moss, E.H. 1952. Grassland of the Peace River region, western Canada. Canadian Journal of Botany 30: 98-124. Moss, E.H. 1983. Flora of Alberta – A manual of flowering plants, conifers, ferns and fern allies found growing without cultivation in the Province of Alberta, Canada, 2nd edition, revised by J.G. Packer. University of Toronto Press. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Prescott, D.R.C. and R.G. Arbuckle. 1995. Avian communities and NAWMP habitat priorities in the Peace parkland biome of Alberta. NAWMP-017. Alberta NAWMP Centre. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 53 pp. Prescott, D.R.C. and A.J. Murphy. 1996. Habitat associations of grassland birds on native and tame pastures in the Aspen Parkland of Alberta. NAWMP-021. Alberta NAWMP Centre. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 36 pp. Rintoul, J. 1984. Silver Valley: Biophysical Resource Analysis. Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Rosendal, M. and A. Baker. 2004. Peace Native Grassland Stewardship Program (2003- 04). Activity Report in press. Produced by Alberta Conservation Association, Peace River, Alberta, Canada. Schmidt, B.C., D.A. Macaulay, N.G. Kondla, D. Lawrie and G. Anweiler. 2003. Additional butterfly records from Alberta, 1999-2002. Blue Jay 61 (2):110-124.

Strong, W.L. and K.R. Leggat. 1992. Ecoregions of Alberta. Land Information Services Division, Alberta Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Vujnovic, K. and J. Bentz (Geowest Environmental Consultants Ltd.). 2001. Preliminary classification of native wheat grass (Agropyron spp.) community types in Alberta. Report prepared for Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Alberta Environment. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Vujnovic, K. and J. Gould. 2002. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre tracking and watch lists – Vascular plants, mosses, liverworts and hornworts. Alberta Community Development, Parks and Protected Areas Division. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 38 pp. Wallis, C.A. 1982. An overview of the mixed grasslands of North America. Grassland Ecology and Classification: Symposium proceedings June 1982. Ministry of Forests, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Western Rangeland Consulting Inc. 1999. Mitigation measures and further recommendations for rare native grasslands on the Cochrane property and three others adjacent to Highway 43, near Grande Prairie, Alberta. Alberta Transportation and Utilities Agreement CEO22/99. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 71 pp. Wilkinson, K. 1981. Remnant and early settlement prairies and solonetzic soils in the Peace River district. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Calgary. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Wilkinson, K. and E.A. Johnson. 1983. Distribution of prairies and solonetzic soils in the Peace River district, Alberta. Canadian Journal of Botany 61: 1851-1860. Williston, P. 2001. The Botrychiaceae of Alberta. Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre, Alberta Environment, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 59 pp. Willoughby, M.G., M. Alexander, and K. Sundquist. 1998. Range plant community types and carrying capacity for the Montane subregion. 3rd approximation. Environmental Protection. Publication. No. T/43. Land and Forest Services. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Willoughby, M.G., Rangeland Health Assessment Project and Forest Rangeland Action Plan. 2000. Guide to range plant community types and carrying capacity for the dry and central mixedwood subregions in Alberta. 3rd approximation. Publication No. T/526. Alberta Environment, Land and Forest Service and Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Public Lands Division. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

187 pp. Willoughby, M.G. and D. Smith. 1997. Range plant community types and carrying capacity for the upper foothills subregion. 2nd approximation. Environmental Protection. Land and Forest Services. Edmonton, Alberta. Publication No. T/356. Willoughby, M.G., C. Stone, C. Hincz, D. Moisey, G. Ehlert and D. Lawrence. 2004. Guide to range plant community types and carrying capacity for the dry and central mixedwood subregions in Alberta. 4th approximation. Publication No. T/058. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Public Lands and Forests Division. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 245 pp. Wolff, J.O., E.M. Schauber and D. Edge. 1997. Effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the behavior and demography of gray-tailed voles. Conservation Biology 11(4): 945-956.

8.0 APPENDICES

8.1 Appendix 1. Expected plant communities of the Peace Region

Vegetative community Location Literature source

Agropyron Just below Agroyron smithii/ Range Ecology and the impact dasystachyum/A. Artemisia tilesii/Artemisia of grazing on the Peace River smithii/Carex/Koeleria frigida community on steep Slopes, Alberta (Adams 1981) macrantha slopes of Peace River

Agropyron dasystachyum Steep, unstable mid-slopes with Adams (1981); Preliminary /Agropyron south aspects in Peace River and classification of Native wheat smithii/Herbaceous Clear River Canyons grass (Agropyron spp.) Community types in Alberta (Vujnovic and Bentz 2001)

Agropyron Dry steep southeast to (Vujnovic and Bentz 2001) dasystachyum/Herbaceous southwest facing slopes near Kakwa Falls

Agropyron dasystachyum/ South and west facing slopes of (Vujnovic and Bentz 2001) Koeleria Peace, Smoky and Wapiti macrantha/Artemisia Rivers; moderate to steep south frigida and southwest facing slopes in Silver Valley

Agropyron Mid-slope position of steep (Vujnovic and Bentz 2001) smithii/Artemisia slopes on Peace River tilesii/Artemisia frigida

Agropyron smithii/Stipa Upper, less steep slopes of Peace (Adams 1981) viridula/ Carex/Vicia River americana Agropyron trachycaulum Upland grasslands An overview of the mixed var. unilaterale/Stipa grasslands of North America spartea/ Danthonia (Wallis 1982) intermedia/Carex

Agropyron North of Ft. Vermilion and east Grasslands of the Peace River trachycaulum/Carex of Caribou River, modified in region, western Canada (Moss atherodes Buffalo Prairie and Keg River 1952); Vujnovic and Bentz 2001

Agropyron trachycaulum/ Steep to moderate southerly (Vujnovic and Bentz 2001) Herbaceous vegetation oriented slopes of Peace River Parkland

8.1. Appendix 1. Continued

Vegetative community Location Literature source

Agropyron trachycaulum/ Wettest, least saline areas of (Vujnovic and Bentz, 2001) Hierochloe Hay River, High Level, Child odorata/Herbaceous Lake

Agropyron trachycaulum/ Moderately dry slopes, flat (Moss 1952, Vujnovic and Stipa/Herbaceous mesic grasslands of Peace River Bentz 2001) area

Amelanchier alnifolia/ saskatoon/snowberry/hairy wild Guide to range plant Melilotus/Bromus inermis rye community disturbed by community types and carrying livestock capacity for the Dry and Central Mixedwood Subregions in Alberta (Willoughby et al. 2000)

Amelanchier alnifolia- Small shrubby openings within (Willoughby et al. 2000) Symphoricarpos aspen forests on southwest occidentalis/ Elymus facing slopes and level areas innovatus

Artemisia campestris/Carex Hilltops and south-facing slopes (Willoughby et al. 2000) spp among jack pine on uplands and black spruce in lowlands

Artemisia Hilltops and south facing slopes (Willoughby et al. 2000) campestris/Festuca among jack pine on uplands and saximontana-Carex spp black spruce in lowlands of Central Mixedwood region

Calamagrostis canadensis Edge of sedge meadows and (Willoughby et al. 2000) moist draws

Carex aquatilis/Carex Wet sedge meadows (Willoughby et al. 2000) rostrata/ Carex atherodes Carex Northwest of Fairview on steep (Vujnovic and Bentz 2001) stenophylla/Agropyron southerly slopes (25-50% grade) smithii/Herbaceous

Carex/Danthonia Flat, mesic grasslands and Remnant and early settlement intermedia/ Stipa curtiseta moderately dry slopes, upland prairies and solonetzic soils in grasslands the Peace River District (Wilkinson 1981)

8.1 Appendix 1. Continued.

Vegetative community Location Literature source

Carex/Thalictrum Saddle Hills on fluvial deposits Range plant community types venulosum and carrying capacity for the Lower Foothills Subregions of Alberta (Lane et al. 2000)

Carex-Poa Rested heavily grazed sedge/ (Lane et al. 2000) pratensis/Thalictrum veiny meadow rue community venulosum

Danthonia californica/ Saddle Hills on gentle to level (Lane et al. 2000) Arctostaphylos uva-ursi areas

Deschampsia cespitosa- Higher elevations on moist, (Lane et al. 2000) Agropyron trachycaulum/ level, valley flood plains and Thalictrum venulosum fluvial terraces

Elymus Lower terraces of Peace River (Adams 1981) innovatus/Agropyron

Hordeum jubatum/ Saline meadows Ft. Vermilion (Vujnovic and Bentz 2001) Agropyron trachycaulum/ Distichlis stricta

Koeleria Drier upland and exposed (Vujnovic and Bentz 2001) macrantha/Agropyron slopes in Grande albicans/Agropyron smithii Prairie/Beaverlodge

Koeleria-Agropyron- Soils with shallow layer of peat (Vujnovic and Bentz 2001) Artemisia on grey wooded loam in Kleskun Hills area

Picea mariana/ Subhygric and hygric sites in A Guide to Using Native Calamagrostis inexpansa/ Dry Mixedwood subregion Plants on Disturbed Lands Sedge (Gerling et al. 1996)

Pinus banksiana-Populus Sandy subxeric-submesic sites of (Gerling et al. 1996) tremuloides/whortleberry/ Central Mixedwood subregion grassy slopes

Pinus contorta-Populus Clear-cut lodgepole pine forest (Lane et al. 2000) tremuloides/Arctostaphylos regenerating to both pine and uva-ursi/Oryzopsis aspen asperifolia

8.1 Appendix 1. Continued.

Vegetative community Location Literature source

Poa interior/Agropyron Grande Prairie/Beaverlodge in (Vujnovic and Bentz 2001) trachycaulum/Herbaceous parts of sand ridge

Poa pratensis-Agrostis Marsh reed grass meadow (Willoughby et al. 2000) scabra under prolonged heavy grazing pressure

Poa pratensis-Phleum Heavily grazed cow parsnip- (Lane et al. 2000) pratense/Thalictrum veiny meadow rue community venulosum type

Populus tremuloides/Rosa Deciduous mesic sites in Dry (Gerling et al. 1996), Mixedwood subregion; (Willoughby et al. 2000) secondary shrub species determining the ecosite/community

Populus tremuloides/Rosa Mesic sites in Central (Gerling et al. 1996) acicularis-Viburnum edule Mixedwood Subregion

Populus tremuloides/Rosa- Submesic sandy soils in Dry (Gerling et al. 1996) Alnus crispa/Oryzopsis Mixedwood subregion asperifolia

Populus tremuloides/Rubus Rare in Lower Foothills (Lane et al. 2000) parviflorus subregion, along northeasterly banks of Smoky River

Populus tremuloides/ Well drained northerly aspects (Lane et al. 2000) Spiraea betulifolia throughout Saddle Hills

Rosa acicularis-Vaccinium Small isolated openings in aspen (Lane et al. 2000) caespitosum/Pleurozium dominated forests of Saddle schreberi Hills

Salix/Agropyron Higher elevations on moist, (Lane et al. 2000) trachycaulum-Bromus level valley flood plains and ciliatus fluvial terraces

Salix/Calamagrostis Heavily grazed willow-marsh (Willoughby et al. 2000) canadensis-Poa pratensis reed grass community

Salix-Alnus crispa/ North and east facing slopes in (Lane et al. 2000) Dryopteris carthusiana Saddle Hills

8.1 Appendix 1. Continued.

Vegetative community Location Literature source

Schizachne purpurascens/ Dry, grassy meadows on dark (Willoughby et al. 2000) Carex/Danthonia colored Solonetzic soils and californica gentle to level areas

Stipa curtiseta- Steep, south facing slopes of (Willoughby et al. 2000) Carex/Artemisia frigida Peace, Smoky and Wapiti rivers

Stipa viridula/Artemisia Xeric, well drained, SE facing Silver Valley Biophysical frigida steep slopes (40 degrees) Resource Analysis (Rintoul 1984) Thalictrum venulosum/ Dry grassy meadows on dark (Willoughby et al. 2000) Agropyron trachycaulum- colored Chernozemic soils Bromus ciliatus

8.2 Appendix 2. Summary of plant species identified at verified sites in the Peace Region 2001-2003

Family Name Common name Type Adoxaceae Adoxa moschatellina moschatel Forb Apocynaceae Apocynum androsaemifolium spreading dogbane Shrub Araliaceae Aralia nudicaulis wild sarsaparilla Forb Asclepiadaceae Asclepias speciosa showy milkweed Forb Betulaceae Alnus alder Shrub Betulaceae Alnus crispa green alder Shrub Boraginaceae Lappula squarrosa bluebur Forb Introduced Boraginaceae Mertensia paniculata tall lungwort Forb Cactaceae Opuntia fragilis brittle prickly-pear Forb Campanulaceae Campanula rotundifolia harebell Forb Caprifoliaceae Linnaea borealis twinflower Shrub Caprifoliaceae Lonicera honeysuckle Shrub Caprifoliaceae Lonicera dioica twining honeysuckle Shrub Caprifoliaceae Lonicera involucrata bracted honeysuckle Shrub Caprifoliaceae Lonicera tatarica tatarian honeysuckle Shrub Introduced Caprifoliaceae Symphoricarpos albus snowberry Shrub Caprifoliaceae Symphoricarpos occidentalis buckbrush Shrub Caprifoliaceae Viburnum edule low-bush cranberry Shrub Caryophyllaceae Arenaria sandwort Forb Caryophyllaceae Cerastium chickweed Forb Caryophyllaceae Cerastium arvense field mouse-ear chickweed Forb Caryophyllaceae Moehringia lateriflora blunt-leaved sandwort Forb Caryophyllaceae Silene catchfly Forb Introduced Caryophyllaceae Silene drummondii Drummond's cockle Forb Caryophyllaceae Silene pratensis white cockle Forb Introduced Caryophyllaceae Stellaria chickweed Forb Caryophyllaceae Stellaria longifolia long-leaved chickweed Forb Caryophyllaceae Stellaria longipes long-stalked chickweed Forb Chenopodiaceae Atriplex nuttallii Nuttall's atriplex Forb Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium goosefoot Forb Introduced Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium album lamb's-quarters Forb Introduced Compositae Achillea millefolium common yarrow Forb Compositae Achillea sibirica many-flowered yarrow Forb Compositae Agoseris glauca yellow false dandelion Forb Compositae Antennaria aprica low everlasting Forb Compositae Antennaria neglecta broad-leaved everlasting Forb Compositae Antennaria parvifolia small-leaved everlasting Forb Compositae Antennaria rosea rosy everlasting Forb Compositae Arnica arnica Forb Compositae Arnica chamissonis leafy arnica Forb Compositae Arnica cordifolia heart-leaved arnica Forb Compositae Arnica fulgens shining arnica Forb 76

8.2 Appendix 2. Continued.

Family Name Common name Type Compositae Artemisia artemisia Forb Compositae Artemisia biennis biennial sagewort Forb Compositae Artemisia campestris plains wormwood Forb Compositae Artemisia dracunculus dragonwort Forb Compositae Artemisia frigida pasture sagewort Forb Compositae Artemisia ludoviciana prairie sagewort Forb Compositae Aster aster Forb Compositae Aster conspicuus showy aster Forb Compositae Aster ericoides tufted white prairie aster Forb Compositae Aster laevis smooth aster Forb Compositae Cirsium thistle Forb Compositae Cirsium arvense Canada thistle Forb Introduced Compositae Cirsium drummondii Drummond's thistle Forb Compositae Crepis tectorum annual hawk's-beard Forb Introduced Compositae Erigeron fleabane Forb Compositae Erigeron caespitosus tufted fleabane Forb Compositae Erigeron glabellus smooth fleabane Forb Compositae Erigeron philadelphicus Philadelphia fleabane Forb Compositae Grindelia squarrosa gumweed Forb Compositae Helenium autumnale sneezeweed Forb Compositae Helianthus sunflower Forb Compositae Helianthus annuus common annual sunflower Forb Compositae Helianthus subrhomboideus rhombic-leaved sunflower Forb Compositae Hieracium umbellatum narrow-leaved hawkweed Forb Compositae Lactuca pulchella common blue lettuce Forb Compositae Matricaria matricarioides pineappleweed Forb Introduced Compositae Matricaria perforata scentless chamomile Forb Introduced Compositae Petasites palmatus palmate-leaved coltsfoot Forb Compositae Petasites sagittatus arrow-leaved coltsfoot Forb Compositae Senecio ragwort Forb Compositae Senecio eremophilus cut-leaved ragwort Forb Compositae Senecio pauperculus balsam groundsel Forb Compositae Senecio streptanthifolius northern ragwort Forb Compositae Solidago goldenrod Forb Compositae Solidago canadensis Canada goldenrod Forb Compositae Solidago missouriensis low goldenrod Forb Compositae Solidago spathulata mountain goldenrod Forb Compositae Sonchus sow thistle Forb Introduced Compositae Sonchus arvensis perennial sow-thistle Forb Compositae Tanacetum vulgare common tansy Forb Introduced Compositae Taraxacum officinale common dandelion Forb Introduced Compositae Townsendia exscapa low townsendia Forb Compositae Tragopogon dubius common goat's-beard Forb Introduced 77

8.2 Appendix 2. Continued.

Family Name Common name Type Cornaceae Cornus canadensis bunchberry Forb Cornaceae Cornus stolonifera red-osier dogwood Shrub Crassulaceae Sedum lanceolatum lance-leaved stonecrop Forb Cruciferae Arabis rock cress Forb Cruciferae Arabis drummondii Drummond's rock cress Forb Cruciferae Arabis hirsuta hairy rock cress Forb Cruciferae Arabis holboellii reflexed rock cress Forb Cruciferae Brassica mustard Forb Introduced Cruciferae Capsella bursa-pastoris shepherd's-purse Forb Introduced Cruciferae Descurainia sophia flixweed Forb Introduced Cruciferae Erysimum cheiranthoides wormseed mustard Forb Cruciferae Erysimum inconspicuum small-flowered rocket Forb Cruciferae Lepidium pepper-grass Forb Introduced Cruciferae Thlaspi arvense stinkweed Forb Introduced Cupressaceae Juniperus juniper Shrub Cupressaceae Juniperus communis ground juniper Shrub Cupressaceae Juniperus horizontalis creeping juniper Shrub Cyperaceae Carex sedge Graminoid Cyperaceae Carex aurea golden sedge Graminoid Cyperaceae Carex concinna beautiful sedge Graminoid Cyperaceae Carex filifolia thread-leaved sedge Graminoid Cyperaceae Carex obtusa blunt sedge Graminoid Cyperaceae Carex pensylvanica sun-loving sedge Graminoid Cyperaceae Carex prairea prairie sedge Graminoid Cyperaceae Carex praticola meadow sedge Graminoid Cyperaceae Carex richardsonii Richardson's sedge Graminoid Cyperaceae Carex siccata hay sedge Graminoid Cyperaceae Scirpus bulrush Graminoid Elaeagnaceae Elaeagnus commutata silverberry Shrub Elaeagnaceae Shepherdia canadensis Canada buffaloberry Shrub Equisetaceae Equisetum horsetail Forb Equisetaceae Equisetum arvense common horsetail Forb Equisetaceae Equisetum hyemale common scouring-rush Forb Equisetaceae Equisetum sylvaticum woodland horsetail Forb Ericaceae Arctostaphylos uva-ursi common bearberry Shrub Ericaceae Vaccinium myrtilloides common blueberry Shrub Ericaceae Vaccinium vitis-idaea bog cranberry Shrub Gentianaceae Gentianella gentian/felwort Forb Gentianaceae Gentianella amarella felwort Forb Geraniaceae Geranium bicknellii Bicknell's geranium Forb Geraniaceae Geranium carolinianum Carolina wild geranium Forb Gramineae Agropyron wheat grass Graminoid Gramineae Agropyron dasystachyum northern wheat grass Graminoid

8.2 Appendix 2. Continued.

Family Name Common name Type Gramineae Agropyron intermedium intermediate wheat grass Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Agropyron pectiniforme crested wheat grass Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Agropyron repens quack grass Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Agropyron smithii western wheat grass Graminoid Gramineae Agropyron trachycaulum slender wheat grass Graminoid Gramineae Agropyron trachycaulum var. awned wheat grass Graminoid unilaterale Gramineae Agrostis bent grass Graminoid Gramineae Agrostis scabra rough hair grass Graminoid Gramineae Agrostis stolonifera redtop Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Avena fatua wild oat Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Beckmannia syzigachne slough grass Graminoid Gramineae Bromus biebersteinii meadow brome Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Bromus ciliatus fringed brome Graminoid Gramineae Bromus inermis awnless brome Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Bromus pumpellianus northern awnless brome Graminoid Gramineae Calamagrostis reed grass Graminoid Gramineae Calamagrostis canadensis bluejoint Graminoid Gramineae Calamagrostis inexpansa northern reed grass Graminoid Gramineae Calamagrostis montanensis plains reed grass Graminoid Gramineae Calamagrostis neglecta narrow reed grass Graminoid Gramineae Calamagrostis purpurascens purple reed grass Graminoid Gramineae Dactylis glomerata orchard grass Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Danthonia californica California oat grass Graminoid Gramineae Danthonia intermedia intermediate oat grass Graminoid Gramineae Deschampsia cespitosa tufted hair grass Graminoid Gramineae Distichlis stricta salt grass Graminoid Gramineae Elymus innovatus hairy wild rye Graminoid Gramineae Festuca rubra red fescue Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Festuca saximontana Rocky Mountain fescue Graminoid Gramineae Glyceria borealis northern manna grass Graminoid Gramineae Helictotrichon hookeri Hooker's oat grass Graminoid Gramineae Hierochloe odorata sweet grass Graminoid Gramineae Hordeum jubatum foxtail barley Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Koeleria macrantha June grass Graminoid Gramineae Muhlenbergia richardsonis mat muhly Graminoid Gramineae Oryzopsis asperifolia white-grained mountain Graminoid rice grass Gramineae Oryzopsis pungens northern rice grass Graminoid Gramineae Phleum pratense timothy Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Poa bluegrass Graminoid Gramineae Poa compressa Canada bluegrass Graminoid

8.2 Appendix 2. Continued.

Family Name Common name Type Gramineae Poa interior inland bluegrass Graminoid Gramineae Poa palustris fowl bluegrass Graminoid Gramineae Poa pratensis Kentucky bluegrass Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Poa sandbergii Sandberg bluegrass Graminoid Gramineae Schizachne purpurascens purple oat grass Graminoid Gramineae Secale cereale rye Graminoid Introduced Gramineae Stipa needle grass Graminoid Gramineae Stipa columbiana Columbia needle grass Graminoid Gramineae Stipa comata needle-and-thread Graminoid Gramineae Stipa curtiseta western porcupine grass Graminoid Gramineae Stipa richardsonii Richardson needle grass Graminoid Gramineae Stipa viridula green needle grass Graminoid Gramineae Triticum aestivum common wheat Graminoid Introduced Grossulariaceae Ribes currant or gooseberry Shrub Grossulariaceae Ribes oxyacanthoides northern gooseberry Shrub Grossulariaceae Ribes triste wild red currant Shrub Iridaceae Sisyrinchium montanum common blue-eyed grass Forb Juncaceae Juncus rush Graminoid Juncaceae Juncus balticus wire rush Graminoid Juncaginaceae Triglochin maritima seaside arrow-grass Graminoid Labiatae Agastache foeniculum giant hyssop Forb Labiatae Dracocephalum parviflorum American dragonhead Forb Labiatae Monarda fistulosa wild bergamot Forb Labiatae Stachys palustris marsh hedge-nettle Forb Leguminosae Astragalus milk vetch Forb Leguminosae Astragalus aboriginum Indian milk vetch Forb Leguminosae Astragalus bisulcatus two-grooved milk vetch Forb Leguminosae Astragalus dasyglottis purple milk vetch Forb Leguminosae Hedysarum alpinum alpine hedysarum Forb Leguminosae Lathyrus ochroleucus cream-colored vetchling Forb Leguminosae Lathyrus venosus purple peavine Forb Leguminosae Medicago sativa alfalfa Forb Introduced Leguminosae Melilotus officinalis yellow sweet-clover Forb Introduced Leguminosae Oxytropis locoweed Forb Leguminosae Oxytropis sericea early yellow locoweed Forb Leguminosae Oxytropis splendens showy locoweed Forb Leguminosae Trifolium clover Forb Introduced Leguminosae Trifolium hybridum alsike clover Forb Introduced Leguminosae Trifolium pratense red clover Forb Introduced Leguminosae Trifolium repens white clover Forb Introduced Leguminosae Vicia americana wild vetch Forb Leguminosae Vicia cracca tufted vetch Forb Introduced Liliaceae Allium onion Forb

8.2 Appendix 2. Continued.

Family Name Common name Type Liliaceae Allium cernuum nodding onion Forb Liliaceae Allium schoenoprasum wild chives Forb Liliaceae Allium textile prairie onion Forb Liliaceae Lilium philadelphicum western wood lily Forb Liliaceae Maianthemum canadense wild lily-of-the-valley Forb Liliaceae Smilacina stellata star-flowered Solomon's seal Forb Linaceae Linum lewisii wild blue flax Forb Onagraceae Epilobium angustifolium common fireweed Forb Onagraceae Epilolobium ciliatum northern willowherb Forb Onagraceae Oenothera biennis yellow evening-primrose Forb Ophioglossaceae Botrychium lunaria moonwort Forb Ophioglossaceae Botrychium multifidum leather grape fern Forb Orchidaceae Habenaria bog orchid Forb Orchidaceae Habenaria viridis bracted bog orchid Forb Orchidaceae Spiranthes romanzoffiana hooded ladies'-tresses Forb Pinaceae Picea glauca white spruce Shrub Pinaceae Pinus contorta lodgepole pine Shrub Plantaginaceae Plantago major common plantain Forb Introduced Polygalaceae Polygala senega seneca snakeroot Forb Polygonaceae Polygonum arenastrum common knotweed Forb Introduced Polygonaceae Polygonum ramosissimum bushy knotweed Forb Polygonaceae Rumex dock Forb Introduced Polygonaceae Rumex occidentalis western dock Forb Portulacaceae Claytonia spring beauty Forb Primulaceae Androsace septentrionalis northern fairy candelabra Forb Primulaceae Glaux maritima sea milkwort Forb Primulaceae Primula incana mealy primrose Forb Ranunculaceae Actaea rubra red and white baneberry Forb Ranunculaceae Anemone anemone Forb Ranunculaceae Anemone canadensis Canada anemone Forb Ranunculaceae Anemone cylindrica long-fruited anemone Forb Ranunculaceae Anemone multifida cut-leaved anemone Forb Ranunculaceae Anemone patens prairie crocus Forb Ranunculaceae Aquilegia brevistyla blue columbine Forb Ranunculaceae Delphinium glaucum tall larkspur Forb Ranunculaceae Ranunculus buttercup Forb Ranunculaceae Ranunculus abortivus small-flowered buttercup Forb Ranunculaceae Ranunculus acris tall buttercup Forb Ranunculaceae Ranunculus cardiophyllus heart-leaved buttercup Forb Ranunculaceae Ranunculus macounii Macoun's buttercup Forb Ranunculaceae Ranunculus pensylvanicus bristly buttercup Forb Ranunculaceae Ranunculus rhomboideus prairie buttercup Forb Ranunculaceae Thalictrum venulosum veiny meadow rue Forb

8.2 Appendix 2. Continued.

Family Name Common name Type Rosaceae Agrimonia striata agrimony Forb Rosaceae Amelanchier alnifolia saskatoon Shrub Rosaceae Crataegus rotundifolia round-leaved hawthorn Shrub Rosaceae Fragaria virginiana wild strawberry Forb Rosaceae Geum aleppicum yellow avens Forb Rosaceae Geum triflorum three-flowered avens Forb Rosaceae Potentilla cinquefoil Forb Rosaceae Potentilla anserina silverweed Forb Rosaceae Potentilla arguta white cinquefoil Forb Rosaceae Potentilla gracilis graceful cinquefoil Forb Rosaceae Potentilla hippiana woolly cinquefoil Forb Rosaceae Potentilla norvegica rough cinquefoil Forb Rosaceae Potentilla pensylvanica prairie cinquefoil Forb Rosaceae Prunus pensylvanica pin cherry Shrub Rosaceae Prunus virginiana choke cherry Shrub Rosaceae Rosa rose Shrub Rosaceae Rosa acicularis prickly rose Shrub Rosaceae Rosa woodsii common wild rose Shrub Rosaceae Rubus idaeus wild red raspberry Shrub Rosaceae Rubus pubescens dewberry Shrub Rosaceae Spiraea meadowsweet Forb Rubiaceae Galium boreale northern bedstraw Forb Rubiaceae Galium triflorum sweet-scented bedstraw Forb Salicaceae Populus balsamifera balsam poplar Shrub Salicaceae Populus tremuloides aspen Shrub Salicaceae Salix willow Shrub Salicaceae Salix bebbiana beaked willow Shrub Salicaceae Salix planifolia flat-leaved willow Shrub Santalaceae Comandra umbellata bastard toadflax Forb Saxifragaceae Heuchera alumroot Forb Saxifragaceae Heuchera richardsonii Richardson's alumroot Forb Saxifragaceae Mitella nuda bishop's-cap Forb Scrophulariaceae Castilleja miniata common red paintbrush Forb Scrophulariaceae Linaria vulgaris butter-and-eggs Forb Introduced Scrophulariaceae Orthocarpus luteus owl-clover Forb Scrophulariaceae Penstemon beardtongue Forb Scrophulariaceae Penstemon gracilis lilac-flowered beardtongue Forb Scrophulariaceae Penstemon procerus slender blue beardtongue Forb Scrophulariaceae Rhinanthus minor yellow rattle Forb Selaginellaceae Selaginella densa prairie selaginella Forb Typhaceae Typha latifolia common cattail Graminoid Umbelliferae Cicuta maculata water-hemlock Forb Umbelliferae Heracleum lanatum cow parsnip Forb

8.2 Appendix 2. Continued.

Family Name Common name Type Umbelliferae Lomatium foeniculaceum hairy-fruited wild parsley Forb Umbelliferae Sanicula marilandica snakeroot Forb Umbelliferae Umbelliferae umbellifer Forb Umbelliferae Zizia aptera heart-leaved Alexanders Forb Urticaceae Urtica dioica common nettle Forb Violaceae Viola adunca early blue violet Forb Violaceae Viola canadensis western Canada violet Forb

8.3 Appendix 3. Examples of plant community descriptions to be used in a Plant Community Guide to Peace Region Grassland Communities

PPB1. Sedge-Slender wheat grass-Western porcupine grass (Carex spp.-Agropyron trachycaulum-Stipa curtiseta) n=33 This community type appears to represent a Sedge-Western porcupine grass-Intermediate oat grass community that has been grazed moderately for an extended period of time. As grazing pressure increases there appears to be a decline in the cover of Western porcupine grass and Intermediate oat grass. This allows sedge and slender wheat grass to increase in cover. Continued heavy grazing pressure will eventually cause all native species to decline and the site will become dominated by Kentucky bluegrass to form the Kentucky bluegrass-Sedge dominated community.

PLANT COMPOSITION CANOPY COVER (%) ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES MEAN RANGE CONST. MOISTURE REGIME (MEAN): SHRUBS MESIC ROSE (Rosa acicularis) 6 0-17 91 NUTRIENT REGIME (MEAN): SASKATOON MESOTROPHIC-PERMESOTROPHIC (Amelanchier alnifolia) 7 0-30 79 SNOWBERRY ELEVATION: (Symphoricarpos 697 M occidentalis) 3 0-20 58 FORBS SOIL DRAINAGE (MEAN): DANDELION WELL (Taraxacum officinale) 4 0-15 67 OLD MAN’S WHISKERS FORAGE PRODUCTION (KG/HA) (Geum triflorum) 9 0-24 88 TOTAL PRAIRIE CROCUS 2000 *ESTIMATE (Anemone patens) 4 0-13 82 SUGGESTED GRAZING CAPACITY YARROW 0.5 HA /AUM (Achillea millefolium) 10 0-21 97

FRINGED SAGE (Artemisia frigida) 1 0-8 52 GRASSES KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS (Poa pratensis) 2 0-7 76 SEDGE (Carex spp.) 30 1-58 100 SLENDER WHEAT GRASS (Agropyron trachycaulum)5 0-10 85 WESTERN PORCUPINE GRASS (Stipa curtiseta) 5 0-15 91

PPB2. Sedge-Kentucky bluegrass-Intermediate oat grass (Carex spp.-Poa pratensis-Danthonia intermedia) n=22 This community type appears to represent a Sedge-Western porcupine grass-Intermediate oat grass community that has been grazed moderately to heavily for an extended period of time. As grazing pressure increases there appears to be a decline in the cover of Western porcupine grass and Intermediate oat grass. This allows sedge and slender wheatgrass to increase in cover. Continued moderate to heavy grazing pressure favours the growth of sedge and Kentucky bluegrass. Continued heavy grazing will eventually lead to the Kentucky bluegrass-Sedge dominated community.

PLANT COMPOSITION CANOPY COVER (%) ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES MEAN RANGE CONST. MOISTURE REGIME (MEAN): SHRUBS MESIC ROSE (Rosa acicularis) 9 0-35 100 NUTRIENT REGIME (MEAN): SNOWBERRY MESOTROPHIC-PERMESOTROPHIC (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) 4 0-17 59 ELEVATION: SASKATOON 576-606(588) M (Amelanchier alnifolia) 9 0-50 86 FORBS SOIL DRAINAGE (MEAN): YARROW WELL (Achillea millefolium) 11 4-21 100 NORTHERN BEDSTRAW FORAGE PRODUCTION (KG/HA) (Galium boreale) 10 0-20 91 TOTAL 2000 *ESTIMATE OLD MAN’S WHISKERS (Geum triflorum) 10 0-24 82 SUGGESTED GRAZING CAPACITY DANDELION 0.5 HA /AUM (Taraxacum officinale) 8 0-18 82 PRAIRIE CROCUS (Anemone patens) 2 0-18 59 GRASSES SEDGE (Carex spp.) 25 7-44 100 KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS (Poa pratensis) 12 1-29 100 SLENDER WHEAT GRASS (Agropyron trachycaulum) 6 0-14 96 INTERMEDIATE OAT GRASS (Danthonia intermedia) 5 0-12 77 WESTERN PORCUPINE GRASS (Stipa curtiseta) 4 0-19 64 PURPLE OATGRASS (Schizachne purpurascens) 3 0-10 27

PPB3 . Kentucky bluegrass-Sedge (Poa pratensis-Carex spp.) n=11 This community is formed when a Sedge-Western porcupine grass-Intermediate oat grass community is heavily grazed for a prolonged period of time. The heavy grazing pressure causes the native species to decline in cover and the site is invaded by grazing resistant species such as, dandelion, Kentucky bluegrass, timothy and smooth brome. It is not clear how this community type will respond to complete protection from grazing. It is likely that Kentucky bluegrass will dominate or co-dominate the site for many years.

PLANT COMPOSITION CANOPY COVER(%) ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES MEAN RANGE CONST. MOISTURE REGIME (MEAN): SHRUBS MESIC ROSE

(Rosa acicularis) 4 0-22 82 NUTRIENT REGIME (MEAN): SNOWBERRY MESOTROPHIC-PERMESOTROPHIC (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) 3 0-10 55 ELEVATION: SASKATOON (Amelanchier alnifolia) 5 0-17 73 576-606(588) M FORBS YARROW SOIL DRAINAGE (MEAN): (Achillea millefolium) 10 2-19 100 WELL NORTHERN BEDSTRAW (Galium boreale) 6 0-12 91 FORAGE PRODUCTION (KG/HA) OLD MAN’S WHISKERS TOTAL 2000 *ESTIMATE (Geum triflorum) 6 0-38 55

DANDELION SUGGESTED GRAZING CAPACITY (Taraxacum officinale) 11 0-27 91 0.5 HA /AUM PRAIRIE CROCUS (Anemone patens) 3 0-17 55 GRASSES SEDGE (Carex spp.) 9 1-24 100 KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS (Poa pratensis) 38 10-57 100 SLENDER WHEAT GRASS (Agropyron trachycaulum) 3 1-6 100 INTERMEDIATE OAT GRASS (Danthonia intermedia) 3 0-8 55 WESTERN PORCUPINE GRASS (Stipa curtiseta) 3 0-20 55 SMOOTH BROME (Bromus inermis) 8 0-45 46

8.4 Appendix 4. Summary of butterflies observed in the Peace Region, during 2001- 2003

Disjunct grassland Number of sites Common name Species name species where observed

SKIPPERS Arctic Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon 1 X Plains Skipper Hesperia assiniboia 6 X Garita Skipper Oarisma garita 1 Long-dash Skipper Polites mystic 1 Skipper sp. 2

SWALLOWTAILS Canadian Swallowtail Papilio canadensis 8 X Pike's Old World Swallowtail Papilio machaon pikei 3 Anise Swallowtail Papilio zelicaon 1 Swallowtail sp 26

SULPHERS AND WHITES Christine Sulphur Colias christina 2 Pink Edged Sulphur Colias interior 1 Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice 2 Cabbage White Pieris rapae 10 Western White Pontia occidentalis 2 Sulphur sp. 14 White sp. 5

BLUES, COPPERS AND HAIRSTREAKS Hoary Elfin Callophrys polia 1 Spring Azure Celastrina ladon 2 Western Tailed Blue Everes amyntula 3 Silvery Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus 9 Melissa Blue Lycaeides melissa 4 Northern Blue Lycaeides idas 1 Gray Copper Lycaena dione 1 Bronze Copper Lycaena hyllus 1 Greenish Blue Plebejus saepiolus 1 X Striped Hairstreak Satyrium liparops 1 X Coral Hairstreak Satyrium titus 3 Blue sp. 21 Copper sp. 3

ADMIRALS AND ANGLEWINGS White Admiral Limenitis arthemis 9 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta 2 Anglewing sp. 1

FRITILLARIES Meadow Fritillary Boloria bellona 9 Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia 1 Aphrodite Fritillary Speyeria aphrodite 4 Atlantis Fritillary Speyeria atlantis 2 Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele 1 Northwestern Fritillary Speyeria hesperis 8 Mormon Fritillary Speyeria mormonia 3 Greater Fritillary sp. 5 Lesser Fritillary sp. 6 87

8.4 Appendix 4. Continued.

Disjunct Number of sites Common name Species name grassland species where observed

CRESCENTS AND CHECKERSPOTS Tawny Crescent Phyciodes batesii 1 Northern Crescent Phyciodes cocyta 6 Crescent sp. 1 X Checkerspot sp. 3

SATYRS Common Wood Nymph Cercyonis pegala 11 Common Ringlet Coenonympha tullia 16 Common Alpine Erebia epipsodea 6 X Alberta Arctic Oeneis alberta 2 X Uhler's Arctic Oeneis uhleri 5 X Arctic sp. 3

Note: Nomenclature follows Layberry et al. (1998)

8.5 Appendix 5. Summary of moth species observed during 2003

Species name Author Location Dates captured (2003) Collector

ARCTIIDAE Peace River, 8km NNE Crambidia impure (B. & McD.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 17-Aug 25-Aug Walty, D. Deadwood area Sample, T., Grammia doris (Boisduval) (SE33-89-22-W5) 10-Jun Bone, S. Peace River, 8km NNE Grammia obliterata (Stretch) (NE21-84-21-W5) 17-Aug Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Grammia parthenice (Kirby) (NE21-84-21-W5) 5-Jul 21-Jul 28-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Grammia williamsii (Dodge) (NE21-84-21-W5) 5-Jul 19-Jul 21-Jul 28-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Holomelina ferruginosa (Wlk.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 5-Jul 21-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Hypoprepia miniata (Kirby) (NE21-84-21-W5) 19-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Platarctia parthenos (Harris) (NE21-84-21-W5) 26-Jun Walty, D.

GEOMETRIDAE Peace River, 8km NNE Dysstroma citrata (L.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 25-Aug Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Erannis tiliaria (Harr.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 26-Sep 4-Oct Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Hesperumia sulphuraria (Pack.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 19-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Horisme incana (Swett) (NE21-84-21-W5) 15-Jun Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Itame loricaria (Evers.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 26-Jun Walty, D. Peace River region Lomographa semiclarata (Wlk.) (SE21-90-21-W5) 3-Jun Bone, S. Peace River, 8km NNE Metarranthis duaria (Gn.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 7-Jun Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Probole amicaria (H.-S.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 26-Jun Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Scopula limboundata (Haw.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 5-Jul Walty, D.

Peace River, 8km NNE Synaxis jubararia (Hulst) 17-Aug Walty, D. (NE21-84-21-W5)

HEPIALIDAE Peace River, 8km NNE Gazoryctra noviganna (NE21-84-21-W5) 25-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Sthenopis purpurascens (NE21-84-21-W5) 21-Jul Walty, D.

NOCTUIDAE Peace River, 8km NNE Actebia fennica (Tauscher) (NE21-84-21-W5) 25-Aug Walty, D.

8.5 Appendix 5. Continued.

Species name Author Location Dates captured (2003) Collector

Peace River, 8km NNE Agnorisma bugrai (Kocak) (NE21-84-21-W5) 25-Aug Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Agrotis venerabilis (Wlk.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 25-Aug Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Catocala relicta (Wlk.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 25-Aug Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Catocala unijuga (Wlk.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 25-Aug Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Chytonix palliatricula (Gn.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 26-Jun 5-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Diachrysia aeroides (Grote) (NE21-84-21-W5) 21-Jul 28-Jul Walty, D. Peace River region Sample, T., Drasteria adumbrata (Behr) (NW16-108-14-W5) 1-Jul Bone, S. Peace River, 8km NNE Enargia decolor (Wlk.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 25-Aug Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Enargia infumata (Grote) (NE21-84-21-W5) 19-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Eurois astricta (Morrison) (NE21-84-21-W5) 21-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Euxoa servita (Smith) (NE21-84-21-W5) 19-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Feltia jaculifera (Gn.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 28-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Hillia iris (Zetterstedt) (NE21-84-21-W5) 25-Aug Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Homohadena stabilis (Smith) (NE21-84-21-W5) 21-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Lacinipolia lorea (Gn.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 26-Jun Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Lacinipolia lustralis (Grote) (NE21-84-21-W5) 26-Jun Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Lacinipolia vicina (Grote) (NE21-84-21-W5) 5-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Leucania insueta (Gunee) (NE21-84-21-W5) 5-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Leucania multilinea (Wlk.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 5-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Lithacodia albidula (Gn.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 26-Jun Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Litholomia napaea (Morrison) (NE21-84-21-W5) 26-Sep Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Oncocnemis cibalis (Grote) (NE21-84-21-W5) 26-Sep Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Orthodes obscura (Sm.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 7-Jun Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Parastichtis suspecta (NE21-84-21-W5) 19-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Phalaenophana pyramusalis (Wlk.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 5-Jun Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Phalaenostola metonalis (Wlk.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 21-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Schinia cumatilis (Grote) (NE21-84-21-W5) 21-Jul Walty, D.

8.5 Appendix 5. Continued.

Species name Author Location Dates captured (2003) Collector

Peace River, 8km NNE Sideridis maryx (Gn.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 7-Jun Walty, D.

NOTODONTIDAE Peace River, 8km NNE Clostera albosigma (Fitch) (NE21-84-21-W5) 7-Jun Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Gluphisia septentrionis (Wlk.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 7-Jun Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Nadata gibbosa (J.E. Smith) (NE21-84-21-W5) 5-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Pheosia rimosa (Pack.) (NE21-84-21-W5) 5-Jul Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Schizura unicornis (Smith) (NE21-84-21-W5) 21-Jul Walty, D.

SPHINGIDAE Peace River, 8km NNE Smerinthus cerisyi (Kirby) (NE21-84-21-W5) 15-Jun Walty, D. Peace River, 8km NNE Smerinthus jamaicensis (Drury) (NE21-84-21-W5) 5-Jul Walty, D. Note: All species identified by C. Schmidt, University of Alberta

CCONSERVATIONONSERVATION RREPORTEPORT SSERIESERIES The Alberta Conservation Association acknowledges the following partners for their generous support of this project